CAIRO (AP) – A leading Sudanese protest group on Sunday rejected a United Nations (UN) initiative to hold talks with the military aimed at restoring the country’s democratic transition following an October coup.
At least one demonstrator, meanwhile, was killed when security forces violently broke up anti-coup protests in the capital, activists said.
The move is a blow to international efforts seeking an end to Sudan’s political deadlock, and suggest that relentless street protests are likely to continue. Over 60 people have been killed since the military takeover.
The UN offer on Saturday came a week after embattled Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned, citing a failure to reach compromise between the generals and the pro-democracy movement.
The October 25 coup scuttled hopes of a peaceful transition, over two years after a popular uprising forced the military overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his government.
In a statement, the Sudanese Professionals’ Association, which led the upraising against al-Bashir, said the “only way” out of the ongoing crisis is through the removal of the generals from power.
It seeks a fully civilian government to lead the transition, underlined by the motto “No negotiations, no compromise, no power-sharing” with the military.
