Talks to end Sudan crisis begin, anti-coup groups boycott

The October 25 military coup toppled the civilian administration and derailed the country’s brief transition to democracy, destroyed the little faith that civil society groups had in the national probe [File: AFP]

Talks aiming to end Sudan’s ongoing political deadlock have begun, the United Nations said, although the country’s main pro-democracy alliance is boycotting them over a continued police crackdown on those protesting against last October’s military coup.

The joint peace effort, which started Wednesday, is brokered by the UN political mission in Sudan, the African Union, and the eight-nation east African group Intergovernmental Authority in Development (IGAD).