Expulsion would last ‘until the effective establishment of a Civilian-led Transitional gov’t’
BY TESFANEWS*
The African Union has suspended Sudan’s membership “with immediate effect”, amid an upsurge of violence in the capital that has seen dozens killed and growing fears that splits among the ruling military regime could lead to civil war and anarchy.
“The AU Peace and Security Council has, with immediate effect, suspended the participation of the Republic of Sudan in all AU activities until the effective establishment of a Civilian-led Transitional Authority, as the only way to allow the Sudan to exit from the current crisis,” the AU tweeted on Thursday.
The decision was made unanimously by members at an emergency meeting of the AU in Addis Ababa that lasted more than five hours.
The decision by the pan-African body will significantly increase pressure on the country’s new military rulers, raising the prospect of diplomatic isolation on the continent and sanctions if they do not hand over power to a civilian-led authority – a key demand of pro-democracy protesters.
In a strongly worded statement, the AU said it deplored the loss of innocent lives in recent days in Sudan and called for the military and security forces to ensure the full protection of civilians and respect for human rights and freedoms.
The AU’s decision was prompted by the deaths on Monday of more than 120 people [reportedly] when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed a weeks-long sit-in outside military headquarters in the capital. Several hundreds were injured.
Talks between opposition activists and the ruling interim military council have since broken down.
On Thursday the UK Foreign Office summoned the Sudanese ambassador to raise concerns about the developments.
There is increasing anxiety among observers that the crisis will exacerbate divisions within Sudan’s security establishment, raising the prospect of armed factions battling for power.
The AU had set repeated deadlines in a bid to force concessions from the transitional military council (TMC), which seized power when the dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April after months of mass protests.
The chairman of the African Union commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Monday called for an “immediate and transparent” investigation into the killings.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was heading to Khartoum on Friday to try to mediate between the two sides, Reuters news agency reported, quoting diplomatic sources.
1/2: I spoke to US @AsstSecStateAF yesterday,who voiced support of AU position on #Sudan condemning unacceptable violence. No unilateral solution possible. Vital for the international community to speak with one voice + convince parties to resume talks on a consensual transition.
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) June 5, 2019
2/2: My special envoy is currently in Khartoum and holding talks with all the parties and I look forward to brief the @AfricanUnion Peace&Security Council when it meets tomorrow to evaluate the current situation in #Sudan.
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) June 5, 2019
* The BBC and Guardian contributed to the story.
Eritrea: AU Stance May Exacerbate the Situation in the Sudan
BY MINISTRY OF INFORMATION (PRESS RELEASE)
The inherent flaws that have afflicted the African Union since its inception; its failure to meet the aspirations of the African people; as well as, the liabilities that have ensued from this poignant reality are well-known and widely shared to merit emphasis. Unfortunately, efforts exerted towards reforming the AU have not succeeded to date.
Its evident weaknesses aside, what has become more perplexing in the past years is its unwitting role to provide suitable pretexts for external intervention.
The AU’s posturing on the events unfolding in the Sudan is a recent and vivid illustration of this deplorable state of affairs.
In the event, the Government of Eritrea requests the AU to refrain from internationalizing and exacerbating the situation in the Sudan.
Ministry of Information
Asmara
5 June 2019
