African Union lauds Sudan on transitional roadmap

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The African Union Commission commended Sudan on Wednesday for agreeing on a transitional roadmap with reasonable timing.

“The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat wishes to commend the Sudanese stakeholders for the progress being made towards reaching an agreement for a political transition in Sudan,” the group said in a statement.

Sudan’s Transitional Military Council and the opposition alliance earlier Wednesday agreed to consummate the process of reinstating civilian rule within three years.

And all political actors would be brought on board to map out an inclusive transition in six months.

The country has been run by the military council since President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown early last month, in part due to popular protests that continue with demonstrators demanding total civilian rule.

Mahamat congratulated “national stakeholders for their high level of responsibility to complete the negotiation cycle in a reasonable time in order to adequately address the legitimate concerns of the Sudanese people.”

He also commended the collaboration of the United Nations, the European Union and the Troika of the U.S., Norway and the U.K. in supporting the AU’s approach to help Sudan achieve a Sudanese-led and -owned political transition for the betterment of the country and the region.

Mahamat’s principal strategic adviser, professor Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, is currently in Khartoum to oversee the Commission’s technical support to the political transition process in Sudan.