By Hossam Badawi
KHARTOUM (AA) – Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday declared his support for a planned presidential bid by a leading member of his ruling National Congress Party in polls slated for 2020.
Al-Bashir made the assertion in an address delivered at a political rally in Sudan’s east-central Gezira State and broadcast on local television channels.
“I will endorse the candidacy of Gezira State Governor Mohamed Tahir Ayla — if he has the support of the state’s citizens — in the upcoming election, ” al-Bashir said.
“Gezira State has fallen behind in development, ” he added, going on to attribute this state of affairs to “disputes between certain political leaders”, who, he asserted, “don’t care about the development process”.
“I chose Ayla as governor [of Gezira State] based on his ability to work hard and to push forward the service projects that the state currently lacks, ” the president added.
Last week, al-Bashir reiterated earlier pledges to leave office upon the expiry of his second presidential term in 2020.
