( CNN ) -- Sudan 's second most powerful official -- who was the man who signed a 2005 peace deal ending the country 's decades-long civil war -- has resigned , the African nation 's president said Saturday , according to state media . First Vice President Ali Osman Taha is leaving his post as part of a reshuffle of President Omar al-Bashir 's Cabinet , the official Sudan News Agency ( SUNA ) reported . He is doing so `` voluntarily , '' according to al-Bashir . Taha has long been associated with , and been a fervent backer of , al-Bashir . He served as Sudan 's chief negotiator during north-south peace talks in 2004 that culminated with his signing the agreement in Nairobi , Kenya , early the next year . Five years later , following a popular referendum , South Sudan officially became independent from Sudan . In 2008 , Taha stood firmly behind al-Bashir after the International Criminal Court filed genocide charges against the Sudan president for a five-year campaign of violence in Darfur , calling this move an attempt to `` paralyze '' his country . Taha was Sudan 's first vice president -- the second highest post in the east African nation -- from 1998 to 2005 , became second vice president between 2005 and 2011 , then returned to the previous position . No detailed explanation was given in the SUNA report as to why Taha was leaving office . Al-Bashir told a crowd in northern Kharthoum that there are no differences or conflicts regarding the formation of a new government , according to SUNA . Dozens died earlier this fall in a spate of anti-government protests following the decision to lift its gas subsidies -- a move that nearly doubled the price of gasoline . The demonstrations also prompted a crackdown on local and international media .
First Vice President Taha Taha resigns , state media reports . President Taha said Omar al-Bashir resigned `` voluntarily '' Taha signs the historic earlier this fall peace deal and has stood by Omar al-Bashir .