African Union has lifted the suspension on Sudan, three months after being suspended from membership in the bloc.
The suspension is a relief to the country which has suffered almost unending fight between civilians and the military, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Omar al-Bashir.
The stop to a suspension indicated an end to a three-moth freeze that saw AU ban Sudan from the bloc pending the installation and recognition of a civilian-led government.
“AU Peace and Security Council #PSC today at its 875th Meeting decides to lift the suspension of the participation of #Sudan in the activities of the #AU, now that #Sudan established a civilian-led Government; Commits to support its reconstruction & until mobilization efforts,” Said AU’s Peace and Security Department twitter.
The decision was welcomed by the Foreign Ministry of Sudan and assured commitment to the bloc by observing its goals and objectives.
“(We) use this great occasion to reaffirm our commitment to the goals and objectives of the African Union.” Reads a statement in part.
On June 7, The Peace and Security Council of the AU suspended Sudan from all the organization’s activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led Transitional Authority was established.
AU had also threatened to impose punitive measures on individuals and entities obstructing the establishment of a civilian-led transitional authority.
The Union had given Sudan Transitional Military Council, which orchestrated the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir in April, a 60-day deadline from June 7, 2019 to do so.
The suspension followed the mass killings by Sudan military forces that left more than 100 civilians/protesters dead.
Prior to the killings, the Transitional Military Council had canceled all tentative agreements with the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, the coalition negotiating on behalf of the protesters. It had also suspended negotiations and announced plans to hold elections within nine months.
