Omar el-Digeir, the chief of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party, was arrested and jailed days after protests erupted on December 19 after a government decision to triple the price of bread.
The authorities launched a widespread crackdown to curb the protests as they mushroomed into nationwide demonstrations against Bashir, who swept to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989.
“The chief of our party, Omar el-Digeir has been released after two months in detention,” the Sudanese Congress Party said in a statement, without specifying when he was set free.
Omar el-Digeir
“But 40 other party leaders are still in detention,” it said, vowing to pursue protests against Bashir.
On Tuesday, Digeir vowed to push on with protests against Bashir’s rule.
“We assure our people that our party is fully committed to continue with the peaceful struggle until we achieve success,” he wrote on Twitter.
Over the past decade, the Sudanese Congress Party has emerged as an active opposition group, regularly staging demonstrations and rallies against the authorities.
Most of its supporters are youths, mainly university students and graduates.
Deadly clashes between protesters and security forces have left 31 people dead, officials say, while Human Rights Watch says at least 51 have been killed including medics and children.
Protesters accuse Bashir’s administration of mismanaging the country’s economy and have called on the 75-year-old president to step down.
Bashir has remained defiant, banning unauthorised rallies and setting up special emergency courts to investigate violations during the state of emergency.
Protests have dwindled since the state of emergency came into effect but on Thursday several demonstrations took place in the capital Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman.
Hundreds of protesters were arrested and put on trial at emergency courts.
The protests that have rocked Sudan since December were led by the Sudanese Professionals’ Association, a group of unions of teachers, doctors and engineers.