February 22, 2019: President declares 12-month state of emergency
Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir has declared a 12-month state of emergency across the country. The declaration was made in an address to the nation at 8pm local time on Friday (February 22).
The move is aimed at quelling spreading anti-government protests calling for him to leave office.
Meanwhile, protesters continued their rallies in the capital Khartoum after the close of the Friday congregational prayers, Jum’ah.
Bashir has stressed that he will only leave office if polls are held but the relentless protesters have also vowed to continue till he leaves.
Security agencies have had a hard time controlling some of the protests. Routine reports of tear gas and discharge of live bullets have led to deaths and injuries amid widespread arrest of political opponents and journalists.
#BREAKING Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir declares a year-long state of emergency after anti-government protests pic.twitter.com/Qazr8GHuku
— AFP news agency (@AFP) February 22, 2019
February 21, 2019: Telecom giants undertake sit-ins
Reports indicate that employees of MTN and Zain have staged sit-in protests at their offices in the country.
The action is allied with ongoing protests that have rocked the government with calls for president Al-Bashir to quit after three decades in charge of the country.
MTN is one of three telecom outfits operating in the country. Government has since December 2018 ordered a restriction on access to especially social media platforms.
But it continues to be one of the main sources of information on the anti-government action. Facebook and Twitter have been crucial in spreading information about ongoings across the country.
A peaceful sit-in today by employees at MTN – one of the big three telecom companies in Sudan that have restricted access to social media platforms since the 20th of December. pic.twitter.com/HOPTYHwQWG
— Yousra Elbagir (@YousraElbagir) February 21, 2019
