By Nafisa Eltahir

KHARTOUM, Reuters – Consultations will begin Monday at the United Nations Mission in Sudan with the aim of launching direct talks to end the country’s political crisis following an October coup.

A transition towards elections was stalled by the military’s takeover. In this instance, the army had agreed that it would share power with civil groups after the uprising in 2019.

This also prevented Sudan from opening up to the world economically after years of sanctions and isolation. Since the coup, more than 60 civilians have died and hundreds more were injured by security forces’ crackdowns on mass protests.

U.N. special rep Volker Perthes stated that the first talks would begin Monday. They will include extensive individual consultations to help move on to a second stage of direct and indirect negotiations among different players.

We want to get things done quickly…We will be starting the afternoon with the civil society group. “We will always have a mixture of stakeholders to which we are speaking every day,” he stated.

Perthes stated that setting a date for negotiations would prove difficult. “Time is limited, that’s what we all know. We are under tremendous pressure to resolve the Sudanese situation.

Analysts and diplomats warn that Sudan’s current economic situation could get worse if it doesn’t find a way to transition the country and make credible elections.

Perthes expressed hope that the consultations would be a “confidence-building” measure, which could help reduce violence.