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African Union suspends Egypt after Mursi ouster
The African Union suspended Egypt from the continental body on Friday after the ousting of president Mohammed Mursi, in line with its strict rules against unconstitutional changes of government.
The African Union’s Peace and Security “council decided to suspend the participation of Egypt in African Union activities until the restitution of constitutional order”, said an official statement.
The pan-African bloc met on Friday at AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital to discuss the political crisis in Egypt, following Mursi’s removal by the army on Wednesday.
“The council reiterates the African Union’s condemnation and rejection of any illegal seizure of power,” the statement added.
“The overthrow of the democratically elected president does not conform to the relevant provisions of Egypt’s constitution, and therefore falls under the definition of an unconstitutional change of government.”
Ahead of the meeting, African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma stressed its “principled position” on such changes of government.
However, Mohamed Edrees, Egyptian ambassador to the African Union, said ahead of the decision that “the voice and the call of tens of millions of Egyptians must be heard, understood and respected”.
