This archive report was first published on 7 September 2019.
On September 6, 2019, the African Union (AU) suspended Sudan's membership following a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Khartoum.
However, on September 6, 2019, the AU's Peace and Security Council announced that it had lifted the suspension, citing Sudan's transition to civilian rule.
The decision was made after Sudan's new premier, Abdalla Hamdok, unveiled a new 18-member cabinet on September 5, 2019, a major step in the transition toward civilian rule.
According to the AU Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki, the cabinet formation marked 'the beginning of a new era' for Sudan.
The move was a result of a power-sharing deal signed between the movement that led the months-long protests against former leader Omar al-Bashir and the generals who seized power after ousting him.
Under the deal, a joint civilian-military ruling body was sworn in to oversee the transition, with the formation of a legislative body within 90 days.
The AU's Peace and Security Council announced the decision to lift the suspension in a tweet, stating that Sudan had established a civilian-led government.
