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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announces beginning of work of presidential councils in Khartoum, Sudan, June 6, 2018. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday announced that the presidential councils formed in January have begun to work. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir)

KHARTOUM, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday announced that the presidential councils formed in January have begun to work.

The councils include Council of Presidency Affairs, National Council for Macroeconomics, National Information Council, National Council for Foreign Policy and Unity and Peace Council.

The membership of the five councils, chaired by al-Bashir, includes the first vice president, the vice president, assistants of the president and a number of experts and specialists.

"Formation of these councils aims to achieve integration among the state's institutions and coordinate stances," said al-Bashir at the launching ceremony of the presidential councils.

These councils aim to support the drawing polices, map out strategies and improve the overall performance, he said, pointing out that Sudan is facing challenges that need united efforts to achieve peace and overcome the economic barriers.

On Jan. 24, al-Bashir issued decrees forming five presidential councils in implementation of the outcomes of the national dialogue conference, which was concluded in 2016.

The presidency affairs council is to be tasked with mapping out plans and programs and approving the studies that can enable decision-making and ensure the strategic path of the state.

The macroeconomics council is to endorse the polices relating to the overall economy, receive regular reports on transformations in the macroeconomics polices and evaluate the effects of the transformations on the economic sectors.

The national information council would be tasked with working out the comprehensive prospect for information in the constitution.

The national council for foreign policy is to plan, direct and draw the external polices according to the presidential vision and directives, and to supervise development of mechanisms and structures of the assisting institutions in implementation of the foreign policy.

The peace and unity council, meanwhile, is to be tasked with the realization of peace in all parts of Sudan and completion of the national accord among the political forces to achieve civil harmony in the country.

Sudan's national dialogue conference concluded in October 2016 with the approval of the national document formulated by the participants in the conference.