KHARTOUM, 11 August. - (ANA) - Sudan’s ruling party says it will back its leader President Omar al-Bashir as a candidate in the 2020 election, state news agency SUNA reported on Friday, a move that would require a constitutional amendment.

 

The party made the announcement late Thursday after its consultative council, the Shura, adopted the amendment unanimously.

 

The chairman of the Shura Council, the party’s legislature, Prof Kabashor Kuku, confirmed that NCP has abolished its two-term limit for a presidential candidate.

 

“After long consultations among the elected consultative council members, we have come to a consensus to nominate President Omar Al-Bashir for another term,” he said.

 

The amendment paves the way for the party to seek to change the Sudanese Constitution that allows a president to only serve a maximum of two five-year terms.

 

For the 74-year-old Bashir, he will be seeking to extend his 29-year reign after seizing power in a military coup in 1989.

 

Despite the ICC arrest warrant, he won in the 2010 and 2015 elections that were marred by controversy and opposition boycotts.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/ 11 August 2018 - - -