Pan-African body 'concerned' over takeover in Sudan

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The African Union has expressed concern over the removal Thursday of Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir from the presidency, as announced by the nation’s military.

"The AU Commission Chairperson expresses the African Union conviction that the military takeover is not the appropriate response to the challenges facing Sudan and the aspiration of its people," said a statement by the commission.

According to the statement, the military's announcement of the suspension of the constitution is a particular concern.

The commission is "closely monitoring .... the dissolution of the National Assembly, the formation of a military-led transitional government, which will rule for two years and the arrest of president Al Bashir as well as the imposition of a state of emergency."

Under the union’s 2000 Lome Declaration, unconstitutional changes of government will not be recognized.

"In the meantime," the statement said, "the Chairperson urges all concerned to exercise calm and utmost restraint and to respect the rights of citizens.

The statement also urged all stakeholders to engage in an inclusive dialogue to create conditions to make it possible to meet the Sudanese people’s aspirations to democracy, good governance, and well-being and restore the constitutional order.