African Union calls for consultations in Sudan as govt is dissolved

The African Union has expressed its consternation at the current situation in Sudan, including the arrest of Abdallah Hamdok, the country's prime minister, and other civilian officials.

In a statement released on Monday by Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the AU Commission, the AU called for the release of all political leaders and strictly respecting human rights. 

"The AU commission calls for the immediate resumption of consultations between civilians and military within the framework of the Political Declaration and the Constitutional Decree. The Chairperson reaffirms that dialogue and consensus is the only relevant path to save the country and its democratic transition," Mahamat said.

According to the information ministry, Sudan's military has placed Hamdok under house arrest after moving him to an unknown location. The troops are also said to have arrested four cabinet ministers and one civilian member of the transitional government.

Later on Monday, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's ruling council, declared a state of emergency across the country and the dissolution of the transitional sovereign council and the government. He said the 2019 agreement on the transitional government, which the civilian and military leadership had shared, had turned into a struggle that was threatening peace and security.