African leaders have given Sudan’s ruling military council three months to implement democratic reforms, amid pressure for a quick handover of power to civilians.
The decision was reached Tuesday at a meeting in Cairo hosted by Egyptian President, Abdelfatah al-Sisi in his role as Chairman of the African Union.
The decision extends a 15-day deadline set by the African Union last week for Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC) to hand over power to civilians or to be suspended from the grouping.
Discussions in Cairo on Tuesday are also meant to “stem the current crisis” in Libya”, Egypt’s presidency said.
Sisi called for a coherent regional response, as protests continue in Khartoum despite the toppling of Omar al-Bashir earlier this month and as strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces bear down on Tripoli.
“The principle of African solutions to African problems is the only way to deal with common challenges facing us,” Sisi said in opening remarks to the summit on Sudan, according to Egypt’s presidency.
Sudan’s military council, which took power after Bashir was deposed, has so far resisted calls from protesters to stand aside immediately for a civilian administration.
Sisi cautioned Sudanese political actors to “safeguard the state’s institutions…in order to prevent a slide into chaos”.
Last month, he warned against the dangers created by protests, but fell short of explicitly naming Sudan or Algeria, where demonstrations have toppled long-time leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
The Egyptian president also called on the international community to “shoulder the pressing economic burden” created by Sudan’s challenges.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday announced three billion dollars (2.7 billion euros) in financial support for Khartoum.
Attendees in Cairo include Chadian President Idriss Deby, Rwanda’s head of state Paul Kagame, Congo’s Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Somalia’s Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Djibouti’s leader Ismail Omar Guelleh, Egypt’s presidency flagged on Monday.
AU commission chair Moussa Faki is also expected to participate in the Cairo discussions, along with officials from Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
The summits are the first to be convened by African leaders on the current crises in Sudan and Libya.
