KHARTOUM, Sudan

Sudanese protesters staged mass rallies in the capital Khartoum on Saturday to demand the departure of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered around the headquarters of the national army amid calls for the military to intervene to overthrow the regime, according to eyewitnesses.

Saturday’s demonstration comes upon a call by the Sudanese Professional Association (SPA), which spearheaded anti-regime protests in recent weeks, for protesters to rally to mark the anniversary of the 1985 uprising when the Sudanese toppled the regime of Sudanese President Gaafar Numeri.

On Monday, al-Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since 1989, pledged to carry out sweeping political and economic reforms in the country.

Since last December, Sudan has witnessed steadily mounting protests against al-Bashir’s continued rule.