Credit: African Union /  African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent

By Gary Raynaldo   / DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The African Union (AU) ended its three-months suspension of Sudan’s membership in the bloc Friday following the installment of  a civilian-led government in the Eastern African nation after the overthrow of authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir.  In June, the  AU suspended Sudan’s membership as deadly violence gripped the nation’s capital with dozens reported killed.  The capital city Khartoum  experienced a wave of deadly violence  following the army overthrowing  al-Bashir in April.  Opposition activists  claimed a paramilitary group killed  more than 100 people amid the unrest.  Many Sudanese remained fiercely skeptical that the new military coalition would protect the democratic aspirations of people.  The AU  quickly got involved and has since been playing an active role to assure that the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people are upheld and respected by all political players. After the military and civilian parties and protest groups signed a three-year power-sharing deal in August, Sudan named Abdallah Hamdok as prime minister.   Last  Thursday,  Hamdok formed the country’s first Cabinet since  al-Bashir was ousted.  

Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe /  Sudan’s new Prime Minister Abdallah  Hamdok

Abdalla Hamdok is a public administrator who serves as the 15th Prime Minister of Sudan. Prior to his appointment, Hamdok served in numerous national and international administrative positions. From November 2011 to October 2018, he was Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(UNECA). 

 UNECA staff described Hamdok as “a true Pan-Africanist, a diplomat, a humble man and a brilliant and disciplined mind”.

Credit: AU twitter.com /  Moussa Faki Mahamat , Chairperson of the African Union Commission

AU Lifts Suspension As Sudan Established 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 & int'l mobilization efforts pic.twitter.com/CaDFbqYhaR

— African Union Peace (@AU_PSD) September 6, 2019

The AU decided to lift Sudan’s suspension from the bloc at its  875th Meeting Sep. 6, 2019. The AU stated that the body was committed to supporting the reconstruction process and mobilising the international community.