Sudan's Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem addressed the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on September 28, 2026, in New York, expressing regret over the US decision not to issue a visa to Sudanese military leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Gen. Burhan was scheduled to address the gathering on behalf of Sudan's government and people. The failure to issue the visa prevented Burhan from attending the high-level segment of the General Assembly.
According to Salem, Sudan regrets that the matter had remained unresolved despite efforts by the UN Secretariat and calls by Secretary-General António Guterres for the host country to issue the visa in line with its obligations under the 1947 Headquarters Agreement. Guterres had expressed concern over the visa issue, and the UN Secretariat had raised the matter with US authorities.
Salem called on the secretary-general, the General Assembly, and the UN Committee on Relations with the Host Country to take necessary measures to safeguard the agreement. He also requested that the incident be formally documented and considered through the relevant UN mechanisms responsible for implementing the agreement. The US has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the visa decision.
A Reuters report suggested that the visa issue may be linked to a US-backed proposal for a 90-day ceasefire in Sudan, citing a Sudanese diplomatic source and a Western analyst familiar with the matter. The US State Department did not immediately comment on the specific visa case. Sudan is being represented at the General Assembly by Salem.
In his address, Salem also called for comprehensive reform of the international system, stating that global challenges require greater respect for international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. He advocated for political disputes to be addressed through dialogue and opposed the use or threat of force in international relations.
The Sudanese minister criticized the use of coercive sanctions to pursue political or economic objectives, citing Sudan's experience of being subject to sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter for over two decades. He argued that these sanctions had harmed the country's economy and security and affected its sovereignty.
Salem's remarks come as Sudan remains at war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, a conflict that began in April 2023 and has caused a major humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced. He also called for reform of the UN Security Council, including greater representation for Africa, and changes to its working methods to reflect current international circumstances.
Key points
- Sudan's Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem criticizes US for denying visa to Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to attend UN General Assembly.
- Sudan calls for comprehensive reform of the international system, including greater respect for international law and peaceful settlement of disputes.
- Sudan seeks reform of the UN Security Council, including greater representation for Africa.
