KHARTOUM: Sudanese journalists went on strike on Thursday in the wake of deadly protests against bread prices, while opposition groups called for further demonstrations and Egypt offered the government its support.

The Sudanese Journalists’ Network said it was striking in solidarity with protesters, a disputed number of whom have been killed in a crackdown by authorities since demonstrations against a tripling of bread prices erupted on Dec 19.

“We declare a three day strike from December 27 to protest against the violence unleashed by the government against demonstrators,” the network said.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry voiced support for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir and his government on Thursday, on a visit to Khartoum alongside Cairo’s intelligence chief General Abbas Kamel.

“Egypt is confident that Sudan will overcome the present situation,” Shoukry told reporters after he met Bashir at the presidential palace in Khartoum.

“Egypt is always ready to support Sudan and the ability of Sudanese people as per the government of Sudan’s vision and policies,” Shoukry said in what were the first remarks by a top regional Arab official in support of Bashir’s government since protests began. The “stability of Sudan means [the] stability of Egypt,” he said.

Cairo and Khartoum have recently sought to iron out their differences in a bid to improve relations roiled by a longstanding border dispute and an impasse in talks over Ethiopia’s Nile dam.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2018