The African Union (AU) has condemned the military takeover in Sudan and asked the military and civilian transitional leaders to stick to dialogue and consensus to solve their differences.
Members of the military carried out a coup and declared a state of emergency. They also detained government officials including transitional prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok.
The AU Peace and Security Council is expected to hold an emergency to discuss the situation.
The African Union says it does not support unconstitutional change of the government. The AU Commission Chairperson, Mousa Faki Mahamat, says the military and civilian leaders in Sudan must immediately resume consultation.
He says talks must be guided by the political declaration and the constitutional decree of the transitional process that Sudan began in 2019 and which is expected to end in 2024.
He has also asked the military holding the Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other government officials to release them and respect human rights.
Aid agencies are also concerned that the turn of events will complicate assistance to the most vulnerable in Sudan. The Norwegian Refugee Council says a lot is at stake for over 13 million people who need humanitarian aid because of protracted conflict.
Human Rights Watch says the military takeover kills the hope the Sudanese people had for a fairer and rights-abiding country. Sudan is the chair of the regional Intergovernmental Authority for Development, IGAD.
The region is battling several conflicts already that include a protracted conflict in Ethiopia’s North, a diplomatic row between Sudan and Ethiopia, and Somalia’s internal political conflict as well as its fight with Al Shabaab terrorists.
Political Analyst Professor Ibbo Mandaza talks about the implications of return to military rule in Sudan:
