African Union Map Update: Sudan Suspended

Map by Evan Centanni, from blank map by Eric Gaba. License: CC BY-SA

Sudan Suspended from African Union

On June 6, the African Union (AU) suspended Sudan from membership in the continental organization. This is the first time any country has been suspended from the AU since 2016, when the Central African Republic (CAR) was reinstated after a three-year suspension.

Country Short Name:   • Sudan (common English usage) • the Sudan (official English name at UN) • as-Sūdān (Arabic) Full Official Name:   • Republic of the Sudan (English) • Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān (Arabic) Capital: Khartoum

Sudan's suspension from the AU came about two months after longtime leader Omar al-Bashir's removal from power in an April military coup. The AU routinely suspends any member country that goes through an unconstitutional change of leadership, though it had actually given Sudan extra time in hopes that the threat of suspension would be enough to pressure its military leaders into giving up power. The organization apparently lost patience after 120 protesters were killed in an attack by a pro-government militia.

The African Union includes every independent, internationally-recognized country located primarily in Africa, including the partially-recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) that claims to be the government of Western Sahara. Two cities along the North African coast, as well as some outlying islands, are controlled by non-African countries, leaving most outsiders to consider them outside the African Union. However, even many of those are claimed in principle by AU member countries.

You can see past and future updates to this map by viewing all African Union articles or all African Union suspensions updates on PolGeoNow.

Graphic of the Sudanese flag is in the public domain.