Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir acknowledged on Monday that his country was facing economic challenges as he is confronted by anti-government protests sparked by a hike in prices. "There is an economic problem ... and we are working to resolve it," he told crowds of supporters gathered in Niyala, the capital of South Darfur state, where a day earlier police broke up an anti-government demonstration, state television reported. Last week, he pledged to continue state subsidies for basic items, raise salaries, improve health care and overhaul the banking system. Moreover, he said Monday that ongoing protests will not lead to a change in government. "Theres only one road to power and that is through the ballot box. The Sudanese people will decide in 2020 who will govern them," said Bashir, who is planning to run for the presidency for the third time in elections to be held next year. Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December 19 when angry demonstrators took to the streets in towns and villages against a government decision to raise the price of bread. At least 40 people have been killed in the clashes, according to rights groups, but the government has acknowledged only 24 deaths. Authorities have also detained more than 800 people since the unrest began, along with dozens of opposition leaders. In the initial days of protests, several buildings and offices of Bashirs ruling National Congress Party were set on fire in towns and villages before the demonstrations spread to the capital Khartoum. "Sudan has many enemies and those enemies have few people among us who dont want stability and security," said Bashir, with state television broadcasting footage showing him waving his trademark cane as supporters chanted "stay, stay". "We will not allow anyone to destroy our homeland by looting and burning our properties," said Bashir as some supporters attended the rally on camels, while many heard him from tree tops. On Sunday, the first anti-government demonstrations were held by groups of protesters in Niyala and El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. In Khartoum Monday, security agents raided the offices of the Society of Sudanese Surgeons and confiscated its letterheads and stamps, the group said in a statement. The general secretary of the society was also detained, it said. Some unions of doctors are part of an umbrella group called the Sudanese Professionals Association that has spearheaded the anti-government demonstrations. Bashirs years in office have failed to lift Sudan out of its rampant poverty or bring peace and unity to the religiously diverse country. Sudan was Africas largest country until 2011, when the south seceded, taking with it about three quarters of the countrys oil wealth.