The African Union has threatened to suspend Sudan if the military does not cede power to a civilian-led transitional government.
The AU in a statement released on Monday condemned the Sudanese army for its plot to lead the country for two years on a transitional period as presidential elections are planned.
“Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council demands that the Sudanese military step aside and hand over power to a transitional civilian-led political authority, in accordance with the will of the people and constitutional order, within a maximum period of fifteen (15) days from the date of the adoption of the present communiqué, failing which, Council will automatically apply Article 7(g) of its Protocol, in particular the suspension of the participation of the Sudan in all AU’s activities until the restoration of constitutional order,” the statement reads.
The army toppled Omar al-Bashir from the presidency last week after 30 years in power, following weeks of sustained protests across the country.
In a televised address, Sudan’s defence minister, Lieutenant General Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, announced that al-Bashir had been arrested and taken to a “safe” location, and that the army would lead for two years.
With this announcement, thousands of protesters remained on the streets demanding that the army cedes power to a civilian led transitional government.
The AU in its latest statement has supported these calls to have a civilian-led government.
The statement released on Monday, said the AU “strongly condemns and totally rejects the seizure of power by the Sudanese military and its plan to lead the transition for two years,” and “reaffirms the imperative of a civilian-led and consensual transition in Sudan, it being understood that a military-led transition would be completely contrary to the aspirations of the people of Sudan, as well as to the relevant AU instruments.”
There are fears of a possible eruption of violence between the army and the protesters should the stand-off continue.
The United Nations last week urged the army to refrain from using violence against the protesters.
Negotiations have taken place between the army’s leadership and representatives of the protesters, who submitted a list of demands on Saturday.
The army is however yet to respond to the demands, which include the transfer of power to a civilian-headed transitional authority for a period of four years, at the end of which elections will be held.
