Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Sudanese army, postponed his trip to New York following the denial of his visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Sudanese sources and others emphasize that this action by the United States is related to the proposed ceasefire plan that the Sudanese government has resisted.
Impacts on U.S.-Sudan Relations
This dispute appears to escalate tensions in Washington's relations with the Sudanese army at a critical time in the civil war, which the United Nations calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis. A senior Sudanese source stated that al-Burhan has not yet received official notification of the visa denial, raising concerns within the Sudanese government. This source stated: "We in the Sudanese government deeply regret this as it is a violation of United Nations conventions and international law. The Sudanese government emphasizes its position on peace."
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Efforts for UN Intervention
The Sudanese ambassador to the United Nations has requested intervention from António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, arguing in a letter to him that preventing al-Burhan's attendance at the General Assembly would violate the UN's commitments to member states. According to diplomatic sources, U.S. officials have conditioned al-Burhan's attendance on his agreement to the 90-day ceasefire proposed by U.S. senior advisor on Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos.
With negotiations stalled, al-Burhan is unlikely to respond to Boulos's ceasefire efforts, as he does not accept this "take it or leave it" approach, and any proposal must be subject to suggestions and changes. Additionally, in a letter sent to Guterres dated September 21, the UN has been urged to intervene quickly with U.S. officials for the issuance of the visa.
Consequences of Visa Denial
A UN spokesperson has stated that the Secretary-General is "deeply concerned" about the visa denial for the head of Sudan's transitional sovereign council and is actively in discussions with the United States on this matter. Al-Burhan, recognized as Sudan's de facto leader since 2019, has spoken at the UN General Assembly since the 2021 coup led by him and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) against civilian leadership.
The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis, and Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has established a rival government that has faced challenges in gaining legitimacy. The United States has been making efforts to mediate in this conflict through a "Quad" format that includes the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
Current Situation and Challenges
Currently, relations between the United States and the Sudanese army are strained due to the U.S. proposal to expand the arms embargo in the Darfur region, which is the main base of the Rapid Support Forces. Al-Burhan's supporters view this action as an unjust punishment for the army. Meanwhile, Dagalo announced to his forces in a speech: "It is time for the guns to speak."
Additionally, former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok has traveled to New York as part of the General Assembly this week.
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