African Union suspends Sudan’s participation in all activities

African Union on Wednesday suspended Sudan from all its activities until civilian rule is restored in the country.

The continent-wide bloc said it “strongly condemns the seizure of power,” branding it “unconstitutional.”

Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had on Monday ordered the dissolution of the government and declared a state of emergency.

It said Sudan would be suspended from all AU activities “until the effective restoration of the civilian-led transitional authority.”

Since then, thousands of citizens have mounted protests, chanting “No to military rule.”

The AU suspended Sudan in June 2019 after pro-democracy protesters were gunned down outside army headquarters in Khartoum.

Membership was reinstated 3 months later after Hamdok announced the appointment of Sudan’s first cabinet since the ousting of veteran leader Omar al-Bashir.

Earlier, the EU also condemned the “unconstitutional change of government in Sudan,” saying it continued to recognize the transitional government.

What did the EU say?

The EU Delegation to Sudan made a joint statement that also included Switzerland and the so-called “troika” of countries involved in mediation — Norway, the US, and the UK.

It condemned the military’s actions, but welcomed the fact that coup leaders had allowed Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok to return to his residence.

Hamdok was detained Monday along with his ministers and civilian members of Sudan’s ruling council.

The statement demanded that signatories’ ambassadors be allowed to meet the prime minister and his cabinet, saying it recognized them as constitutional leaders.

The statement went on to address reports of security service using live ammunition and tear gas against protestors.

It spoke of “the importance to respect the fundamental right to demonstrate by all Sudanese citizens and the need to respect all other human rights of all citizens.”

“The security forces and other armed elements must refrain from violent attacks at all times, and peaceful protesters must be protected.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called the coup a “catastrophic development” and condemned it “in the strongest possible terms.”

What is the current situation in Sudan?

The prime minister and his wife were returned home “under close surveillance,” Hamdok’s office said Tuesday. However, other ministers and civilian leaders remain under full military arrest.

Their demonstrations continued on Wednesday, despite security forces making several arrests and tearing down makeshift barricades in Khartoum.

Hamdok’s return did little to appease protesters who had backed the planned transition to civilian rule.

Three prominent pro-democracy figures were among those arrested overnight into Wednesday.

A doctors’ group said four people were killed on Monday when soldiers opened fire on protesters.

Internet services have been blocked with shops around the capital closed after calls for a campaign of civil disobedience.

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), a group of unions that was instrumental in the protests against Bashir has also urged “million-strong protests” on October 30.

Sudan’s Khartoum airport, which has been closed to flights, was set to reopen on Wednesday afternoon, according to the country’s civil aviation authority.

What is the background to the Sudan coup?

The coup followed a two-year transition outlined in a power-sharing deal agreed in August 2019 between the military and civilians.

This followed the ouster of autocrat Omar al-Bashir on the back of mass protests against his rule. 

Sudan had found itself isolated after nearly three decades of isolation under Bashir, and it remains one of the world’s most underdeveloped countries.

New strongman Burhan has pledged to hold elections as planned in July 2023. In the meantime, a technocrat government would be appointed.

In particular, it fell into pariah status as Washington imposed tough sanctions on Bashir’s regime for sheltering Islamic extremists, including al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, in the 1990s.

Sudan has experienced only rare democratic interludes since independence from Britain in 1956.