The advisory council of the National Congress Party (NCP), the governing party of Sudan, has chosen President Omar al-Bashir to stand for re-election in 2020, state media reported Friday.

The NCP's constitution and basic document allow only two presidential terms, and both have been amended for President Bashir to stand again.

"The National Congress Party's shura council has approved President Omar al-Bashir as the party's candidate for the presidential election in 2020," SUNA reported.

The council's chief Kabashor Kuku said that the decision to choose Bashir was taken by the governing party at its all levels, confirming that that the body unanimously abolished two-term limit for a presidential candidate.

The Sudanese leader has been in power since a 1989 military coup.