Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to respond to the question from Deputy Pringle. The African Union has demonstrated robust and principled leadership in response to the crisis since the transitional military council assumed power in Sudan on 11 April. It set 30 June as the deadline for the transfer of power to a civilian authority and on 6 June decided, with immediate effect, to suspend Sudan from participation in all African Union activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led transitional authority. This followed sustained but ultimately unsuccessful engagement with Sudan in the weeks since the transitional military council seized control.

This decision was publicly supported by the EU in a statement by the High Representative. I welcome the appointment of an African Union special envoy for Sudan who has been tasked with mediating between the authorities and the opposition. The envoy attended this week's meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, FAC, to inform EU foreign ministers about his activities. We will continue to support the African Union and that is the way forward in trying to get a successful outcome.

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