African Union suspends Sudan’s membership over coup

October 27, 2021 1:44 pm

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan and African union

Sudan's top army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan speaks during a press conference at the General Command of the Armed Forces in Khartoum on October 26, 2021. - Angry Sudanese stood their ground in street protests against a coup, as international condemnation of the military's takeover poured in ahead of a UN Security Council meeting. (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP) (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images)

The African Union (AU) has suspended Sudan days after the country’s military sacked its transitional government and took power.

The suspension was announced on Wednesday by the political affairs, peace and security department of the African Union Commission.

Military forces, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan(pictured), had on Monday arrested some members of Sudan’s transitional government and other civilian leaders.

The transitional government, made up of both civilian and military representatives, was supposed to oversee a return to full civilian rule.

The government was installed after Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April 2019.

The AU said the suspension will be in place until the transitional government is restored.

It also called for the release of all the civilian leaders being detained by the military.

“AUPSC decides to suspend the participation of the Republic of Sudan in all AU activities until the effective restoration of the civilian-led Transitional Authority; Welcomes the release of the PM; Calls for the immediate release of the ministers & civilian officials in detention,” the tweet reads.

AUPSC decides to suspend the participation of the Republic of Sudan in all AU activities until the effective restoration of the civilian-led Transitional Authority; Welcomes the release of the PM; Calls for the immediate release of the ministers & civilian officials in detention pic.twitter.com/4uYOzMiLzc

— African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security (@AUC_PAPS) October 27, 2021

Sudan’s suspension comes less than two months after the AU suspended Guinea following a coup that ousted President Alpha Conde.

The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) had also suspended Guinea while demanding a return to the constitutional order and Conde’s immediate release.