UN Sudan special mission to wrap up consultations, publish document

The United Nations special mission in Sudan is concluding consultations aimed at salvaging the country’s democratic transition and will produce a summary document next week, a UN source told Reuters on Wednesday.

A military coup on Oct. 25 ended a two-year partnership with political parties. Since then, protesters have taken to the streets demanding a full handover of power to civilians and rejecting negotiations.

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In January, the UNITAMS mission began individual meetings with political parties, armed groups, civil society and the military, aiming to draw out points of agreement and disagreement, which the document will outline in addition to setting priorities going forward, the UN source said.

At the launch, the United Nations had said the talks could lead to rounds of indirect or direct talks to resolve the crisis.

The resistance committees that have organized protests and other political groups have expressed apprehension in statements that the process is legitimizing the military. Military leaders have also cautioned that the UN role should be that of a facilitator rather than mediator.

Thousands of Sudanese marched against military rule again on Monday in Khartoum and other cities, with some saying they were concerned about the return to government of members of the ousted regime of ex-president Omar al-Bashir.

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