Date: Feb 27, 2019 Source: The Daily Star Sudan's Bashir reshuffles senior military staff: statement Bashir bans protests in latest emergency measures Reuters KHARTOUM: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir reshuffled his senior military staff Tuesday, a day after announcing sweeping new security powers to contend with months of anti-government protests, the most sustained street opposition of his 30-year rule. Several members of Sudan's eight-strong military staff council switched positions and Gen. Essam al-Din Mubarak, the former deputy head of the council, was given a new position as minister of state in the defense ministry. "These are normal, routine changes that happen from time to time," the military spokesperson said. Bashir announced a nationwide state of emergency on Friday and issued a raft of edicts on Monday banning unlicensed public gatherings and awarding sweeping new powers to police. Security forces were given the power to search any building, restrict movement of people and public transport, arrest individuals suspected of a crime related to the state of emergency and seize assets or property during investigations. The public prosecutor on Tuesday said that emergency prosecutorial bodies would be set up across Sudan to investigate any crimes taking place under the new status. On Friday Bashir sacked the governors of Sudan's regions and replaced them with officials from the military and security services. Protesters have staged almost daily demonstrations since December, demanding that Bashir, who came to power in a 1989 military coup, step down. The protests were initially inspired by high prices for bread but have turned into a sustained campaign against Bashir and his government. Bashir bans protests in latest emergency measures KHARTOUM: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir banned unlicensed public gatherings and protests Monday in a series of emergency decrees issued during the most sustained anti-government street unrest of his 30-year rule. In a statement from the presidential palace, Bashir also announced a ban on trading or hoarding fuel products and subsidized goods, plus new regulations on trading and transporting foreign currency and gold. He declared Friday a one-year state of emergency, dissolved central and state governments and called on Parliament to postpone constitutional amendments that would have let him seek another term in a 2020 presidential election. But protests have carried on, with demonstrators undeterred Monday despite riot police firing tear gas at the crowds. Chanting “freedom, peace, justice” - the rallying cry of the campaign - hundreds protested in downtown Khartoum, witnesses said. “We are challenging the regime and we are not scared of the state of emergency,” said protester Erij who gave only her first name for security reasons. “We have only one aim and that is to make the president step down,” she said. Later Monday, protesters also took to the streets in the Khartoum districts of Burri, Shambat and Al-Deim, witnesses said. Burri has become a site of almost daily rallies, with protesters blocking streets and burning tires and tree trunks. The protest organizers, an umbrella group called Alliance for Freedom and Change, had called for Monday’s “rally to challenge the emergency.” Riot police also fired tear gas into the compound of Ahfad University for Women after students staged a sit-in, witnesses said. Under the decrees, security forces have the right to search any building, restrict movement of people and public transport, arrest individuals who may be suspected of a crime related to the state of emergency, and seize assets or property during investigations. “The publishing of any news or exchanging any news on any platform including on social media that hurts the citizens or the constitutional system is also banned,” the presidency said. Protesters have staged almost daily demonstrations since December, demanding that Bashir step down. Security forces have responded with tear gas, and sometimes live fire. In his decrees, Bashir also authorized the public prosecutor to revoke any suspect’s immunity if they have it and to set up new courts to deal with cases related to the state of emergency.