Sudan scoffs at rumours of a deterioration in Bashir’s health
May 22, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir on Thursday received his first vice-president Bakri Hassan Saleh and his assistant Ibrahim Ghandour in two separate meetings.
The president also directed him to convey a verbal message to president Zuma.
He also delegated Ghandour to attend Eritrea national day celebrations on his behalf and to carry a letter from him to president Isaias Afewerki.
Ghandour described to reporters afterwards that rumours on Bashir’s health as “hilarious”, adding that some are unable to differentiate between opposing the government and moral practices.
Last week, Bashir underwent a knee replacement surgery at the Royal Care hospital in Khartoum.
He appeared on TV the day after during a meeting with Saleh. He went into a recovery period afterwards and disappeared from public view.
This fuelled rumours that his health took a nosedive, with some even speculating that he died. Others asserted that Bashir has undergone throat surgery and not one in his knee as was announced.
The 70-year-old president underwent throat surgery in Qatar more than a year-and-a-half ago and another one few months afterwards in Saudi Arabia.
A year ago, he secretly flew again to Saudi Arabia again for a medical check-up, according to a presidential source at the time.
Abdullah later admitted that his younger sibling was suffering from a tumor in his throat but insisted that medical tests proved that the swelling is benign.
The president was reportedly advised at the time by doctors to cut his public appearances and speeches.
(ST)