Sudan parliament shortens state of emergency to 6 months

STATE OF EMERGENCY. Sudanese parliament members are seated in the main chamber of the National Assembly during an emergency session discussing a state of emergency declared by the president following anti-government protests, on March 11, 2019. Photo by Ashraf Shazly/AFP

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Sudan's parliament on Monday, March 11, approved a nationwide state of emergency of 6 months instead of one year as ordered by President Omar al-Bashir to quell protests against his iron-fisted rule.

"A six-month state of emergency has been approved by a majority," the speaker of parliament Ibrahim Ahmed Omer said after lawmakers voted on the decree issued by Bashir, according to an Agence France-Presse correspondent.

Bashir declared a state of emergency from February 22 after an initial crackdown failed to suppress the protests that have rocked his administration for more than two months.

Deadly protests erupted on December 19 after a government decision to triple the price of bread.

The demonstrations quickly escalated into nationwide rallies against Bashir's administration, with analysts calling it the biggest challenge to his rule stretching back 3 decades.

Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch has given a death toll of at least 51 including medics and children.

A parliamentary committee set up to look into the decree recommended that the state of emergency be shortened to 6 months instead of one year as originally ordered by Bashir.

Parliament, overwhelmingly dominated by lawmakers from Bashir's ruling National Congress Party (NCP), on Monday approved the recommendation after discussion. – Rappler.com