Sudan … Bashir appoints defense minister as vice president

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Saturday issued a presidential decree appointing Defense Minister Awad bin Auf as the first vice-president while retaining his post as defense minister.

"The President of the Republic, Marshal Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, issued a decree on Saturday appointing the first pillar of Awad Mohammed Ahmed bin Auf to the post of senior vice president and defense minister, said the Presidential press agency SUNA.

Bashir said Friday night that he had imposed emergency state for a year in the country, dissolved the government of national reconciliation, as well as state governments, as well as the training of the government. a government empowered to take tough economic measures. He promised to conduct "transparent investigations into the deaths of protesters". "Republican decrees issued by the Bashir have dissolved the National Council of Ministers, appointed ministers and secretaries general, exonerated state governors and dissolved state governments," the Sudanese news agency reported.

Since 19 December, Sudan has been rife with protests initially provoked by price increases and a lack of liquidity, but has quickly become a protest against the Bashir regime that has lasted for three decades.

Activists say about 60 people were killed during the protests, while official figures killed 32 people, including three security men.

Sudan is experiencing growing economic difficulties with inflation approaching 70% and the decline of the Sudanese pound against the US dollar and other currencies.