African Union Suspends Sudan Over Killing of Demonstrators
By Samuel Abuya
The African Union has expelled Sudan from the union over the violence that was meted on harmless protesters by the country’s military and paramilitary a few days ago leading to the death of more than 30 people and directed the military to hand over power to a civilian-led transitional authority.
The call and expulsion from the African Union come amid fears of the civil war and anarchy thanks to the alleged splits among the military regime that is currently steering the country.
The AU, which has a membership of 54 countries across the continent, made the decision in an attempt to pile pressure on the Sudan’s new military rulers who had initially initiated talks with leaders of demonstrations that are threatening to bring the country to its knees. The African Union also said it would consider diplomatic isolation and sanctions in the event that the military chooses to cling on to power.
In a strongly worded statement, the African Union condemned the killing of innocent demonstrators in Sudan and, at the same time, called on both the security forces and the military to protect the civilians taking part in the ongoing protests in the country’s capital, Khartoum. The union said it is within the rights and freedoms of those demonstrating to do so.
Many observers have expressed their fear that the divisions within the ruling military might be a recipe for armed factions battling for power, something which may plunge the country into anarchy.
The African Union had tried to force the transitional military council to hand over power to a civilian transitional government after the military took over following the ousting of the country’s longest serving President Omar al-Bashir after months of protests.
Negotiations between the two parties, however, aborted and the military announced that the country will hold elections within 9 months, but that was fiercely rejected by the protests leaders who said they don’t want to anything short of the military handing power to the people.
The Monday’s killing of protesters has been blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commonly known as RSF, which is also accused of allegedly dumping bodies of those killed into river Nile.
The military promised to investigate the killings.
Africa Global News Publication.
