Talks to end Sudan’s political crisis following last month’s coup have reached a “semi-stalemate” because the military has refused to return to a path of democratic transition, according to two individuals from the ousted government on Saturday.

According to Reuters, the military has strengthened restrictions on former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was placed under house arrest following his government’s dissolution on Oct. 25.

They went on to say that the new restrictions made it even more difficult for him to conduct meetings or build political contacts.

Sudan’s military chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, stated that the army intervened due to political unrest and the threat of civil war. He believes the military is still committed to the transition and the elections scheduled for 2023.

The United Nations has been involved in mediation efforts to find a mechanism for Hamdok to be reinstated as prime minister of a completely technocratic government.

Hamdok has sought preconditions such as the release of key civilians jailed after the coup and a return to the democratic process that began following the fall of long-term despot Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

Pro-democracy groups are trying to reverse the coup with a series of mass rallies and neighborhood demonstrations. Many reject any role for the military and call for full civilian rule.

Critics of Burhan accuse the army of fomenting unrest before the military takeover, which they say made the risk of civil conflict more likely and derailed a transition that offered an opportunity of Sudan to exit from decades of isolation and internal wars.