The United States has denied a visa to Sudan's de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to address the UN General Assembly in New York. According to sources, Burhan was scheduled to speak at the assembly on Wednesday. This is not the first time Burhan has addressed the assembly, having done so twice since the war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023.
The agreement establishing New York as the site of the UN headquarters stipulates that the United States should not impose any impediments on member state representatives' travel. One diplomatic source described the US withholding of the visa as a "clear violation" of this agreement. Another source suggested that the US had conditioned the visa on Burhan accepting a three-month truce, which the government claims would allow the RSF to regroup and attack.
The US State Department released a statement on Tuesday that did not directly mention the visa issue. However, it emphasized that neither the army nor the RSF, nor their respective leaders, represent legitimate, constitutional governance for Sudan. The department's spokesman, Tommy Pigott, stated that the US would seek to raise the cost of continued conflict on all belligerents and the networks that fuel the conflict.
UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern that the visa had not been issued, according to his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric. The spokesman urged the host country to ensure that visas are issued in accordance with its obligations under the Headquarters Agreement, in time for the President to participate in person in the work of the General Assembly. The UN Secretariat has been engaging with US authorities on this matter.
Sudan is currently being represented in New York by Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salem. The US, along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, has been trying to bring Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, to the negotiating table. The two leaders have been at odds since a power struggle led to their falling out in 2021.
The conflict between Burhan's army and the RSF has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, with estimates suggesting that over 200,000 people have been killed and the world's largest hunger and displacement crises have been caused. The US has also refused visas to other high-profile leaders, including Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and some members of Iran's delegation to the UN gathering.
The US decision to deny Burhan a visa has raised concerns about the potential impact on the peace process in Sudan. The country's internationally recognized government, led by Burhan, has been working to stabilize the country and address the humanitarian crises caused by the conflict. The denial of the visa has sparked debate about the role of the US in promoting peace and stability in the region.
Key points
- The US has refused to grant a visa to Sudan's de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to attend the UN General Assembly in New York.
- The conflict between Burhan's army and the RSF has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, with estimates suggesting that over 200,000 people have been killed.
- The US decision to deny Burhan a visa has raised concerns about the potential impact on the peace process in Sudan.
