Sudan activists slam UN over transition to democracy

By Nathan Morley

A leading pro-democracy group in Sudan has accused the UN of failing to safeguard the country's transition to democracy.

The Sudanese Professionals' Association says the UN is being soft on the military leaders who led last year's coup. Since the coup in October, at least 79 people have been killed and many others wounded.

Now, the organisation has rejected a UN initiative aimed at bringing civilians and the military to the negotiating table.

The coup threw Sudan’s transition to democracy into turmoil after three decades of repression and international isolation. To make matters worse, the upheaval worsened in January this year following the resignation of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, the head of the transitional government.

On Thursday, security forces fired tear gas at protesters demanding justice for those killed following the coup.

The United States has suspended $700 million in assistance to the African country and warned that a continued crackdown by the authorities would have consequences.