AU suspends Sudan over military crackdown

The African Union (AU), on Thursday, said it had suspended Sudan until a civilian government was formed, intensifying international pressure on the country’s new military rulers to give up power.

“Ethiopia meanwhile will launch a mediation effort on Friday,’’ diplomatic sources in Khartoum said.

The moves took place after security forces cleared protesters from a sit-in camp in central Khartoum on Monday.

Security forces have, however, killed dozens of people in the worst violence since President Omar al-Bashir was removed by the military in April after four months of generally peaceful protests.

The opposition had been in talks with an interim military council over a civilian-led transition to democracy, but the negotiations faltered and this week’s crackdown marked a turning point in the power struggle.

The United Nations (UN) and several foreign governments have condemned the bloodshed.

The African Union’s peace and security council, in a meeting in Addis Ababa, decided to suspend Sudan from all AU activities until a civilian government has been formed.

Suspension is the AU’s normal response to any interruption of constitutional rule in one of its member-state.

“Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was due to visit Khartoum on Friday to try to mediate between the military and an opposition alliance,’’ a diplomatic source at the Ethiopian embassy in Khartoum said.