Sudan's Bashir vows to crackdown on anti-government protesters

Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir has warned that his regime will not be overthrown by social media activists.

While addressing his supporters in Kasala town in the eastern part of the country, Bashir vowed to crackdown on anti-government demonstrators.

“We want to tell them that if you want to overthrow the regime, then face us directly on the streets. I challenge you to come out onto the streets. But we know you will not come because you know what happened in the past… This regime will not be overthrown by keyboards and WhatsApp.”

The president’s warning comes days after the opposition and activists in the country issued a fresh call to hold a two-day nation wide strike starting December 19.

The strike will be in protest against the decision by the government to cut fuel subsidies that has led to rising prices of basic goods and medicine in the country.

The sharp fall of the Sudanese pound as well as US economic sanctions are further weakening the country’s economy.

In late November, police fired teargas at about 300 protesters in Khartoum after several opposition groups and activists called for a three day nation wide strike over the soaring costs of basic commodities.

In 2013, about 200 people were killed in a government crackdown on streets protests against a similar move to cut subsidies.