Sudan hit by nationwide electricity blackout during televised presidential speech

Authorities are working to put the country back online but say they can only do so on a city-by-city basis

Sudan’s president Omar Al Bashir is seen here addressing the nation during celebrations for the 62nd Anniversary Independence Day at his palace in Khartoum on December 31, 2017. Mohamed Nureldin AbdalShow more

Sudan suffered a nationwide electricity blackout on Wednesday during a televised speech by president Omar Al Bashir, local papers reported.

Viewers said the broadcast was cut halfway through the president’s speech.

The Sudanese ministry of electricity and water began working on restoring power to the country but said it would only be able to do so for one city at a time.

Ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdulrahim told the Sudan Tribune that cities would be brought back online throughout the day.

Sudan has long struggled with power outages, most recently in February last year when the majority of Sudanese cities were cut from the grid.

A nationwide blackout also occurred in May 2015 when a main power line between the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and the ancient city of Meroe was severed.