US reportedly withholds Sudan army chief's UN visa amid ceasefire pressure

The United States is reportedly withholding a visa for Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The reported move comes as Washington seeks to press him to accept a 90-day ceasefire proposal in Sudan's civil war. Sudanese activists and journalists have criticised the reports, describing them as political pressure.

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According to the supplied reports, the visa issue emerged on Tuesday and was still being discussed on Wednesday, with al-Burhan scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday. The reports say the visa was made contingent on his acceptance of a three-month truce proposed by Massad Boulos, the US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs. Neither the Sudanese government nor the US Department of State has publicly commented on the reports.

The development matters because al-Burhan leads the Sudanese army in a war that has continued since April 2023 against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and driven what the reports describe as the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. Al-Burhan has spoken at the General Assembly twice since the war began, making the reported visa dispute directly relevant to Sudan's diplomatic representation at a major international forum.

The reports also highlight the wider role of the United Nations and its host country obligations. Sudan's UN ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith, has asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intervene with US authorities, according to the supplied material. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general was deeply concerned that the visa had reportedly not been issued and said the UN Secretariat had urged the United States to ensure visas were issued in line with the UN Headquarters Agreement.

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The reaction inside Sudan has been sharply critical, with activists arguing that access to the UN should not be used to influence Khartoum's position on the war. One activist quoted in the reports said that even if the visa is withheld, it will not silence Sudan's voice. Another source described the reported move as a clear violation of the UN's agreement with the United States, underscoring the sensitivity of visa access for leaders attending the General Assembly.

What remains unclear is whether the visa has in fact been formally denied or whether the issue is still under negotiation. The reports do not include a response from Washington, and the Sudanese government has also not commented. The next point to watch is whether al-Burhan is able to travel to New York and whether the ceasefire proposal gains traction before or during the General Assembly.

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