Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has delegated his powers as the head of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to its recently appointed deputy head, Ahmed Mohamed Haroun.
There have been more than two months of widespread protests calling for Mr Bashir to step down, but he is not giving up his presidential powers.
Demonstrations have continued despite a nationwide ban. At least 30 people are known to have been killed.
The NCP said Mr Haroun, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur, would remain in charge until the next general conference.
Last week Mr Bashir dissolved the government and declared a state of emergency, giving the armed forces more power.
But opposition politician Mubarak al-Fadil told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the president’s ceding of power would not appease the protesters.