ADDIS ABABA,Ethiopia, Oct, 27 – The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) has with immediate effect suspended Sudan From Its Activities Until the effective restoration of civilian-led transitional authority.
The council upon deliberations also reaffirmed its demands to have ministers and other civilian officials released from detention.
“The council emphasizes the need for the military to respect their human rights; in this regard, warns the military that they will be held responsible for the personal health, safety and security of the detained officials,” said AUPSC In a communique.
Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and his wife are among those reported to have been detained and put under house arrest, along with members of his cabinet and other civilian leaders. Their whereabouts are unknown.
They are part of a transitional government designed to steer Sudan towards democracy after the rule of the former president, Omar al-Bashir.
The AU is expected to undertake a mission to Sudan to engage with all stakeholders with a view to finding an amicable solution to the current political stalemate.
“The Council calls on all stakeholders in Sudan to remain committed to the implementation of all the provisions of the Constitutional Declaration of August 2019 and the Juba Peace Agreement of October 2020, as well as to respect the timelines stipulated therein,” read a section of the communique.
After dissolving the government and declaring a state of emergency,the coup leader, Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan, is said to have blamed political infighting for the sudden cause of action.
Kenya’s Ambassador to the UN Ambassador Martin Kimani, who had on Monday led a United Nations Security mission meeting with Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, said he had also “expressed regret in my national capacity: we have been clear as Kenya of our support for the civilian-led government in Sudan.”
The UK’s special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Robert Fairweather, tweeted that military arrests of civilian leaders were “a betrayal of the revolution, the transition and the Sudanese people”.
The US, EU, UN and Arab League have also expressed deep concern. The military and civilian transitional authorities have ruled together since 2019 when President Omar Bashir was toppled after months of street protests.
The power-sharing deal between the military and a loose coalition of groups – the Forces for Freedom and Change – saw the launch of the Sovereign Council.
It was scheduled to rule the country for another year – with the aim of holding elections and transitioning to civilian rule.
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