Sudan’s opposition Freedom and Change Coalition called on Wednesday President Omar al-Bashir to step down immediately.
The president rejected the demand, saying elections will determine his fate, declaring “2019 will be a year for peace” across the country.
Sudan’s main opposition groups issued their first joint call for the president to resign, appearing at a news conference together for the first time since protests erupted across the country in December.
Mohammad Farouk, who represents one of the organizations that signed the Declaration of Freedom and Change, said the alliance has united its goals to ensure the way towards salvation.
Farouk welcomed all efforts and national initiatives to topple the current regime, put it on a transitional path that ends corruption and tyranny and introduces democracy.
Representative of the Sudanese Professional Association Mohamed Youssef al-Mustafa said that the Coalition is working on activating key parties in the popular movement, through engaging cities outside the capital Khartoum in shaping the country’s future.
He also stressed the importance of accountability, saying no party has the right to offer amnesty to anyone on behalf of the victims of the regime.
Representative of the National Consensus Forces, Mohamed Mukhtar al-Khatib said the main goal of the ongoing protests is to overthrow the regime.
He stated that the forces of freedom and change will continue their struggle until they achieve that goal, saying they seek to mobilize the masses towards a general political strike and civil disobedience.
Representative of the Sudan Call Sara Nugd Allah, said they seek to topple the regime and establish a democratic system that accommodates all Sudanese.
She stressed the revolution will not back down until the country is liberated, saying they are ready to offer every sacrifice to ensure the success of the revolution.
Representative of the Unionist Gathering Merghani Ibn Ouf said the country is not suffering from an economic crisis, but rather a tyrannical regime.
Bashir, meanwhile, held his own rally in Khartoum and called for peace.
“We reaffirm that this year 2019 will be the year of peace and the permanent silencing of the rifle in Sudan, and there is a will to continue peace in Sudan and convince the other side of the utility of peace,” he said.
