The African Union (AU) says it has suspended Sudan from all activities until a civilian-led government is formed.
The AU Peace and Security Council announced the suspension Thursday as protest leaders in Sudan rejected an offer from the ruling military council to negotiate the country’s political future.
The protest leaders said the call for talks is insincere following this week’s deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Khartoum, which witnesses blamed on the militia known as the Rapid Support Forces.
Doctors allied with the opposition said the death toll from the crackdown had risen to 108 as of Wednesday. The Sudanese Health Ministry issued a statement that said the number is “no more than 46.”
At the United Nations, the ambassador from South Africa, Jerry Matjila, told reporters that South Africa aligned with the AU Peace and Security Council to suspend Sudan. He said South Africa is calling on parties to return to negotiations and agree on the transfer of power of civilian rule as soon as possible.
“Because of this grave situation, this unfortunate development where over 100 people were killed, AUPSC was forced by circumstances to take this position,” he said. “The Security Council may have time to reflect… on what we do going forward.”
British deputy ambassador Jonathan Allen added, “The ongoing reports of intimidation and violence in Khartoum are outrageous and unacceptable and need to stop.”
And Russian deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said Russia takes note of the decision and will see what it can do to start talks on Sunday and end this “period of uncertainty.”
SPA calls for negotiations
Earlier, SPA spokesman Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa said the call for negotiations by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan “is not serious.” He said “those under him have killed the Sudanese and are still doing it.”
The SPA, which is part of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), an alliance representing the protesters, will instead continue its pro-democracy campaign to force the military to hand over power to a civilian authority, al-Mustafa said.
Burhan, head of the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC), said Wednesday military leaders were ready to resume talks with protest leaders with “no restrictions.”
He also said those responsible for the deadly breakup of the eight-week-old sit in outside the Defense Ministry in central Khartoum would be held accountable.
