Khartoum, Jan 8 (AFP\/APP):The United Nations said Saturday it will launch talks to help Sudan find an end to the crisis following a military coup that stalled the transition to civilian rule.<\/p>\n
“It is time to end the violence and enter into a constructive process,” UN special envoy Volker Perthes said in a statement, announcing talks to bring together “all key civilian and military stakeholders”.<\/p>\n
Later, the UN said a news conference would be held on Monday “to mark the official launching of the intra-Sudanese Talks on Democracy and Transition”.<\/p>\n
Sudan has been shaken by pro-democracy protests and a deadly crackdown by security forces since General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan mounted the October 25 takeover that dismantled a fragile power-sharing agreement between the military and civilians.<\/p>\n
The arrangement was agreed following the April 2019 ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir after months of street protests against his iron-fisted rule.<\/p>\n
At least 60 people have been killed in protest-related violence since the coup, according to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, which is part of the pro-democracy movement.<\/p>\n
“The transition has faced major setbacks that have deeply impacted the country since the military coup,” Perthes said.<\/p>\n
“The subsequent and repeated violence against largely peaceful demonstrators has only served to deepen the mistrust among all political parties in Sudan,” he added.<\/p>\n
The UN-backed talks are aimed at “supporting Sudanese stakeholders in agreeing on a way out of the current political crisis and… a sustainable path forward towards democracy and peace,” Perthes said.<\/p>\n
The move was welcome by the so-called Quad countries for Sudan — the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n
“We urge all Sudanese political actors to seize this opportunity to restore the country’s transition to civilian democracy,” the four countries said in a joint statement.<\/p>\n
They said they hoped the talks would lead to elections in Sudan. The Arab League also welcomed the talks.<\/p>\n
Perthes said he was “deeply concerned that the current political impasse may slide the country further into instability”.<\/p>\n
“Armed movements, political parties, civil society, women’s groups and resistance committees will be invited to participate in the UN-facilitated political process,” he added.<\/p>\n
The UN Security Council is to meet Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Sudan.<\/p>\n
Last week, civilian prime minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned, leaving the military in full control of Sudan.<\/p>\n
Hamdok had been held under house arrest for weeks following the coup, before being reinstated in a November 21 deal after international pressure.<\/p>\n
The pro-democracy protest movement denounced the deal as a “betrayal”, saying it provided Burhan with a cloak of legitimacy for his takeover.
\nAnnouncing his resignation last Sunday, Hamdok warned Sudan was at a “dangerous crossroads threatening its very survival”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Khartoum, Jan 8 (AFP\/APP):The United Nations said Saturday it will launch talks to help Sudan find an end to the crisis following a military coup that stalled the transition to civilian rule. “It is time to end the violence and enter into a constructive process,” […]<\/p>\n
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