African Union suspends Sudan over military coup

Reuters | The African Union has suspended Sudan’s participation in all activities until the restoration of the civilian-led authority, it said in a communique dated Tuesday.

The AU Peace and Security Council tweeted the decision on Wednesday, saying it would remain in place “until the effective restoration of the civilian-led Transitional Authority,” as the deposed Sudanese government was known.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets since Monday’s takeover led by armed forces chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

State oil company workers and doctors in Sudan said on Wednesday they were joining protests against the military coup, which has derailed the country’s planned transition to democracy.

A group of neighborhood committees in the capital, Khartoum, has announced plans for further protests leading to what it said would be a “march of millions” on Saturday.

Burhan on Tuesday defended the military’s seizure of power, saying he had ousted the government to avoid civil war.

He has dismissed the joint civilian-military council that had been set up to steer the country to democratic elections following the overthrow of long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising in April 2019.