KHARTOUM, JUNE 7, 2019 (CISA)-The African Union (AU) on June 6 suspended Sudan’s membership days after the military launched a brutal crackdown that killed at least 108 people and left more than 500 wounded, according to the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD).
The AU’s Peace and Security Department said in a post on Twitter on Thursday that Sudan’s participation in all AU activities would be suspended with immediate effect, “…until the effective establishment of a civilian-led transitional authority,” which it described as the only way to, “Exit from the current crisis”.
The announcement followed an emergency meeting by the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after the violent dispersal of a protest camp in Khartoum, began on Monday, June 3.
Sudan has been engulfed in a power crisis with the military since a public uprising led to the ousting of long-time president Omar al-Bashir in April, bringing to an end his 30-year rule.
Civilian protests have been ongoing for months calling for the military to hand over power to civilian rule. The military who initially proposed a three-year transition period led by the army, this week revised the period down to nine months.
In response to the killings, AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat on a June 3 statement called for an, “Immediate and transparent investigation in order to hold all those responsible accountable”.
He further called on all international partners to reinforce common efforts towards the immediate cessation of the violence and rapid resumption of negotiations for a political settlement.
He urged all concerned parties to, “Exercise outmost restraint and to respect the rights of citizens, in the interest of the country and its people,” Reiterating the African Union’s determination to continue to, “…engage and accompany the Sudanese people to support the consolidation of a political agreement in line with the relevant AU Peace and Security Council decisions.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is expected in Khartoum on Friday June 7 to launch mediation efforts.
