AU, IGAD, UN praise Sudan for lifting state of emergency
A group comprising members from IGAD, African Union and the United Nations has hailed the Sudanese government for lifting the state of emergency and releasing political prisoners.
The AU-IGAD-UN Trilateral Mechanism urged the Sudanese government to resolve the political deadlock birthed by the October 25, 2021 coup.
“The AU-IGAD-UN Trilateral Mechanism welcomes the authorities’ decision to lift the state of emergency and the release of the political detainees as positive steps to create the conditions needed for reaching a peaceful resolution to the current political impasse following the October 25, 2021 coup,” the statement read.
They urged Sudanese authorities to fast track the release of detainees, end the use of force against protesters and accept accountability for violations committed.
“We encourage all stakeholders to be prepared for a constructive dialogue in good faith on a political solution and a peaceful way out of the current crisis,” the statement continued.
Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of IGAD, also welcomed the decision of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council to lift the state of emergency and set prisoners free.
“The Executive Secretary hails it as a positive step towards creating a conducive environment to an all-inclusive intra-Sudanese talk,” the statement partly read.
He called on all the political parties, military, civil society organisations and the youth to prioritise dialogue as the major tool to address challenges.
“Dr Workneh urges all stakeholders to fully support and actively take part in the Trilateral Initiative of AU-IGAD-UN that is aimed at creating a platform and facilitating a Sudanese led and owned process towards the restoration of constitutional order and democracy,” the statement continued.
According to this statement, two people were killed during a protest on May 28, 2022.
Sudan has been facing heightened unrest following the ousting of its prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, in October 2021, thus leaving the country under the military rule of the Transitional Sovereign Council led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.
In October last year, Burhan disclosed that the ousted prime minister was safe, at his (Burhan)’s home, adding that he would be released.
Hamdok was later released and reinstated as the prime minister, but he later resigned, claiming he was giving way to a fresh mind to push forward the agenda for transitioning the country from a military to a civilian government.
Sudan has been accused several gross human rights violations by human rights defenders in the course of protests, seeking a civilian government.
Since then, there had been numerous occasions of protests, with concerns about human rights abuses.
South Sudan had been strategic in ensuring peace was restored in Sudan, as they had been doing the same for South Sudan including a breakthrough in the unification of command structure in April 2022.
