Khartoum - (AFP) - The US ambassador to Sudan , John Godfrey, called on the Sudanese political factions that did not participate in a preliminary political agreement reached more than a year after a military coup that toppled civilians from power in Sudan, to join the agreement in an effort to restore the transitional authority. back on track in the country.

Last month, Sudanese military leaders and civilian factions agreed on the first component of a two-stage political process to end the political turmoil that has gripped the country since Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a military coup in October 2021.

"It is important to note that they (non-participants) still have the opportunity to join the (political) process," Godfrey, who last year took over as the first US ambassador to Sudan in nearly 25 years, told AFP.

At the end of the first round of talks on the final stage of the political process, he added, "We understand that there are ongoing efforts to find a way through which (the opponents of the agreement) feel that they can join," to the agreement.

The coup, which disrupted the transition to civilian rule after the overthrow of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, sparked almost weekly anti-government protests amid the country's deep economic crisis and an escalation in ethnic clashes in some states.

The December agreement included Al-Burhan, his deputy, and the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hemedti", as well as several civilian groups, headed by the Coalition of the Forces for Freedom and Change, which is the main civilian faction whose members were overthrown in the 2021 coup.

While internal opponents view the agreement with suspicion, as its critics see that it lacks details and timetables, on the other hand, it received some international acclaim.

Among the critics of the agreement are the leaders of the former armed rebellion groups who signed a peace agreement with the transitional government that was overthrown by the coup, as they described the political process as "exclusionary".

The talks between the signatories to the agreement focused mainly on dismantling the Bashir regime.

Further talks are expected in the coming weeks on the main points of contention related to transitional justice, accountability, and security sector reforms.

The United Nations praised the start of the talks, saying it "represents another important step forward towards realizing the aspirations of the Sudanese people for democracy, peace and sustainable development."

Godfrey expressed his high hopes for the ongoing talks, saying it was "very clear" that the Sudanese factions were working towards the goal of restoring the transitional phase in Sudan.

Al-Burhan had previously pledged to remove the army from the political scene once a civilian government was formed, expressing his hope for the return of international aid, which has been suspended since the coup.

Relations between the United States and Sudan were severely strained under Al-Bashir's three-decade rule, as Washington imposed economic sanctions to tighten the screws on Khartoum since 1993, until relations witnessed a breakthrough under the overthrown transitional government, led by former Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok.

Since the military coup, Washington has suspended $700 million in aid until the transitional period is restored to its track.

Godfrey said the United States continued to provide "humanitarian assistance" and "some development assistance."

"We have made clear that unless a new civilian government is formed in Sudan, we will not be in a position to restore other aid," he added.