Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir said the protesters were mostly young with poor prospects, marking a sudden shift in his public demeanor toward the demonstrations against his government on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Bashir also promised to release detained journalists and is likely the new strategy for the administration which has been trying to offer a more conciliatory tone after the deadly protests.
Defence Minister and Prime Minister made similar remarks in recent days,
“Most of the protesters are young and there are factors that drove them to take to the streets, including inflation, which led to higher prices - and the limited job opportunities that don’t match the number of graduates,” Bashir told journalists at the presidential palace.
Previously Bashir had lashed out at the protesters, telling the “rats to go back to their holes."
Bashir warned against destabilizing the Sudanese state, citing how “you can look at what happened in Libya.”
After longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed the country has been in a tumultuous state for more than eight years.
Bashir's government has been facing protests since mid-December 2018 after he raised the price of bread, limited cash withdrawals, and other economic hardships that prompted thousands to pour into the streets.
Security services have used teargas and even live bullets to disperse the protests, which human rights organizations say have led to at least 45 protesters killed.
The government says only 30 people died, including two police officers.
Political activists, civil society members and journalists have been detained during the protests demanding Bashir resign.
Activists said up to 16 journalists could presently be in prison.
The defense minister said the young people had "reasonable ambition," while Prime Minister Moussa said the demands for better living conditions were "legitimate."
Bashir is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of being behind the genocide in the Darfur region.
He has been attempting to lobby the United States to remove him from the list of countries Washington considers sponsors of terrorism.
Sudan has been unable to gain financial aid and international investments to help revitalize its economy while on the list, but was hopeful when sanctions were lifted in 2017, it would provide some financial growth.
Sudan has been attempting to expand its money supply to try and finance its budget deficit, but that has led to rising inflation and a steep decline in the value of its currency.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / Burhan Ozbilici
