AU rejects restoring membership under Burhan’s Sudan coup

November 20 (ADDIS ABABA) – The African Union reiterated its opposition to military coups on Wednesday, including the 2021 takeover in Sudan, and called for a ceasefire and renewed political dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Sudan is pushing for the reinstatement of its African Union membership, which was suspended after the October 25, 2021, coup. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s de facto leader, insists the AU cannot mediate the country’s conflict until the sanctions imposed on his government are lifted.

“The AU’s position is constant: zero tolerance for unconstitutional coups,” Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, told a news conference in Addis Ababa.

Adeoye said the AU was working with regional bloc IGAD and the United Nations to find a “practical solution” to the crisis, prioritizing an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access. He said the deployment of a proposed AU mission to Sudan hinged on a durable ceasefire agreement.

“We believe that a military solution to the crisis cannot be achieved without the participation of active civilian and political actors,” Adeoye said, emphasizing the need for dialogue. He stressed the AU’s commitment to democracy and good governance in Sudan, calling for a “new Sudan that lives in peace with itself and its neighbours.”

Adeoye also condemned external interference in Africa, citing Sudan and Libya specifically. He highlighted AU efforts to counter the use of mercenaries on the continent.

He said the AU was focused on addressing key issues in Sudan, including balancing power between central and peripheral regions, protecting the rights of marginalized groups, preventing ethnic cleansing, and ensuring aid delivery. He underscored the need to address external interference as a key driver of the Sudanese crisis.