Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir on Friday declared a 12-month state of emergency across the country and dissolved his cabinet and state governments.
The move is aimed at quelling nationwide protests calling for him to step down.
In a televised address, the Sudanese leader delivered a speech to the nation and called on parliament to postpone constitutional amendments that would allow him to run for elections in 2020.
Bashir, who came to power in a military coup backed by Islamists in 1989, called on opposition parties and armed groups for dialogue to fix the country’s political and economic crisis.
The 75-year-old president said he would remain on the side of the young people, pointing out that the demands of many protesters for better living conditions are lawful.
Deadly protests broke out on 19 December 2018 after a government decision to raise the price of bread.
Activists say about 60 people have been killed in the protests, while government puts the death toll at 31.