African Union suspends Sudan over violence against protesters
Source: The Guardian
African Union suspends Sudan over violence against protesters
Expulsion heaps pressure on military rulers to establish civilian-led transitional authority
Jason Burke Africa correspondent
Thu 6 Jun 2019 17.13 BST First published on Thu 6 Jun 2019 15.24 BST
Sudan has been suspended from the African Union (AU) amid growing fears that splits among the ruling military regime could lead to civil war and anarchy.
The decision by the union which has 54 other member states will significantly increase pressure on the countrys new military rulers, raising the prospect of diplomatic isolation on the continent and sanctions if they do not hand over power to a civilian-led authority to allow an exit from the current crisis.
In a strongly worded statement, the AU said it deplored the loss of innocent lives in recent days in Sudan and called for the military and security forces to ensure the full protection of civilians and respect for human rights and freedoms.
The AUs decision was prompted by the deaths on Monday of more than 120 people when paramilitaries attacked a protest camp in the centre of Khartoum. Many hundreds were injured.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/06/sudan-african-union-suspension-military-rulers