It will call on military leaders, parties and factions to reunite amid the continuing protests.. the United Nations announces the start of a “political process” to end the crisis in Sudan – Sudan News

The United Nations announces that a “political process” will be initiated to end the crisis in Sudan
It will appeal to military leaders, parties, and factions for a reunification amid ongoing protests
Reuters + agencies
The United Nations announced Saturday that it would invite political parties, military leaders, and other Sudanese factions into a “political dialogue” to end the crisis caused by the October coup.

The United Nations mediation in the weeks following the coup resulted in the restoration of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in his post. However, the resignation of the latter last week has added to the uncertainty surrounding Sudan’s political future and a transitional period which should conclude with elections in 2023.

Resistance committees in Sudanese city neighbourhoods, political parties and other pro-democracy groups launched a campaign of protests that continues under the slogan “No negotiation.” Security forces’ crackdowns on protesters have killed at least 60 people.

Diplomats and analysts agree that there is more instability in Sudan and its borders if there is not a path to a transition of power or elections that are transparently documented.

“All the efforts made so far have not resulted in the restoration of the path of transformation that fulfills aspirations of Sudanese people,” stated the United Nations Special Representative for Sudan, Volker Perthes in a statement that announced the launch of the new political initiative being supported by the international organization. He stated, “The repeated violence against peaceful demonstrators since the coup only contributed towards deepening the distrust between all political parties within the country.”

According to the UN statement, all major stakeholders including civilians and military including armed movements and political parties, civil society, women’s groups, resistance committees and civil society will be invited into the political process.

Statements
Volker Peretz, Special Representative of UNITAMS Mission and Head of UNITAMS Mission, announced Saturday that consultations were being held. He described them as a priority for a political dialogue between Sudanese parties. The goal of these consultations was to reach an agreement to end the current political crisis, and agree on a sustainable way forward towards democracy and peace.
In a Darfur 24 press circular, Volcker stated that the political process he initiated will be in consultation and with Sudanese partners and the United Nations will assist it in getting out of the current political crisis.
UNITAMS was created by Security Council Resolution 2524(2020) as a response to the request made February 2020 by the Sudanese leadership to support the democratic transition to Sudan.
Volcker stated that the country has been severely affected by the obstacles encountered during the transitional period since the October 25 military coup. He also said that violence against peaceful protestors after the coup only served to increase the distrust among all political parties in Sudan.
The Special Representative of Secretary-General expressed grave concern about the possibility that the country’s current political impasse will lead to more instability and a loss of the political, economic, and social gains made after the revolution. Sudanese people’s aspirations, and stressed the need to end violence and enter into a constructive process.
He said that the political processes he launched would be inclusive of all and all key stakeholders, both civilian and military including armed movements, political party, civil society, women’s groups and resistance commissions, will be invited by the United Nations to participate in the political proces.
Perthes stressed that UNITAMS relies on the full cooperation of all Sudanese stakeholders in order to achieve its success.
In this context, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and US Deputy Secretary of State “Molly V” held phone talks with the leaders of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council to end the current crisis in Sudan, ensure a smooth transition of power and form a civilian government, while the UN Security Council will hold an informal closed session next Wednesday. The latest developments in Sudan.
The Sudanese Sovereignty Council released a statement stating that its President Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan had received a call from the Secretary-General. It stated that Guterres expressed his interest in stabilizing the transition period in Sudan and encouraging dialogue between all Sudanese sides to ensure a smooth transition to free and fair elections.
The head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and the UN Secretary-General stressed the need to expedite the formation of a civilian government in the country, “working to achieve the goals of the glorious December revolution, represented in freedom, peace and justice,” according to a statement of the council.
Molly V, US Assistant Secretary of State For African Affairs, said that she had been in contact with Sudanese civil leaders as well as members of the Sovereignty Council this week.
Molly stated in a Twitter post that she had shared her country’s views on Sudan. She also stressed that Washington and Khartoum should not be able to intensify relations. The security forces must stop using “lethal force”, as well as accountability and taking irreversible actions regarding the transition he is leading. The US official and civilians called for a comprehensive, Sudanese-led dialog on the democratic transition.
Yesterday, Friday morning, a phone call took place between Molly Fei and a member of the Sudanese Sovereign Council Shams El-Din Kabbashi, and a statement of the council stated that Molly and Kabashi agreed that peaceful demonstrations are “a right guaranteed to the Sudanese people, with the obligation not to harm public and private property.”