Coup 'not appropriate response' to Sudan's challenges: AU

African Union (AU) Commission chairman Moussa Faki. He says that the military take-over is not the appropriate response to the challenges facing Sudan. PHOTO | LUDOVIC MARIN | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a transition in Sudan that will meet the "democratic aspirations" of the people, his spokesman said.

  • Guterres appealed for "calm and utmost restraint by all" after long-serving president Omar al-Bashir was ousted by the army.

ADDIS ABABA 

The African Union on Thursday criticised the military ouster of Sudan's veteran president Omar al-Bashir and called for calm and restraint.

"The military take-over is not the appropriate response to the challenges facing Sudan and the aspirations of its people," said a statement from Moussa Faki, chairman of the AU Commission.

He said the AU's Peace and Security Council would meet "swiftly to consider the situation and take the appropriate decisions."

The statement said that Faki called for "all concerned to exercise calm and utmost restraint and to respect the rights of citizens, foreign nationals and private property in the interest of the country and its people."

He urged all involved to "engage in an inclusive dialogue to create the conditions that will make it possible to meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people to democracy, good governance and well-being and restore constitutional order as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a transition in Sudan that will meet the "democratic aspirations" of the people, his spokesman said.

Guterres appealed for "calm and utmost restraint by all" after long-serving president Omar al-Bashir was ousted by the army.