Sudan’s Bashir vows to step down and stay away from politics in 2020
August 19, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir said he would step down from the presidency and remains away from politics at the end of his term in 2020.
In an interview with the Egyptian weekly, Al-Ahram, published on Friday, he said he would not run for a third mandate. “This a final position, God willing .. I ruled for two mandates that will end in 2020 and will not extend it, and the constitution will not be changed.”
“I have spent more than twenty years and this is more than enough in Sudan. People want new blood and new impetus to continue construction and development processes,” added, the 72-year president.
“We have a party and constitutional institutions and whoever is appointed as chairman of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) certainly would be a candidate for the (Sudan’s) presidency,” and added, “And then I’ll leave the presidential residence and stay away from the world of politics.”
The NCP Shura Council, in October 2014, choose al-Bashir again to be the party’s candidate for the presidential elections of April 2015, in spite of his pledge earlier to not run for the office of President again.
Bashir is the first sitting head of state ever to be indicted in 2009 by the war crimes court, International Criminal Court (ICC).
His case contributed to the international isolation of the country which is hit by economic sanctions.
(ST)