MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2019) The African Union announced on Thursday that it had suspended Sudan's participation in the bloc's activities following a violent crackdown on protesters in the country and demanded that Khartoum establish a civilian transitional authority.
On Monday, Khartoum was hit by a new wave of violence when the army descended on the tent camp that was set up outside the military headquarters to call for a swift transition to civilian rule after long-time President Omar Bashir was deposed in April. Earlier on Thursday, the Sudanese Health Ministry said that 46 people had been killed in the crackdown.
"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 union tweeted.
The AU said in a statement that it condemned "the violence that led to the loss of lives and injuries among civilians."
"[AU] Requests the Chairperson of the Commission, in close coordination with the relevant stakeholders in Sudan, [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] IGAD and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), within the framework of relevant AU instruments relating to the fight against impunity, to make concrete proposals on the modalities for an investigation into the deadly events which took place from 3 June 2019 in Sudan, and report to Council," the statement read.
In addition, the union pledged to introduce sanctions "on individuals and entities obstructing the establishment of the civilian-led Transitional Authority" if the Transition Military Council failed to transfer power.
On April 11, Sudan was rocked by a military coup that ousted Bashir from power following months of anti-government protests. The Transitional Military Council took over but the protests continued as the opposition called for a transition of power to a civilian-led government.
