Sudan On Edge As President Bashir Bans Protests, Declares Year-long State Of Emergency

Sudanese President Omar Bashir—who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes—has responded to the largest anti-government demonstrations against his 30-year rule by banning public gatherings and declaring a year-long state of emergency. Bashir also dissolved the federal and state governments, thus postponing the implementation of constitutional amendments that would have let him seek another term in 2020. The longtime ruler likewise sacked most of his cabinet in an effort to placate the public. Under the umbrella group Alliance for Freedom and Change, protesters have staged near-daily demonstrations since December demanding that Bashir step down. Human Rights Watch pegs the number of demonstrators killed at 51. The ICC has issued a warrant for Bashir’s arrest over alleged crimes against humanity committed in the Darfur region in western Sudan.