US Reportedly Withholds Sudan Army Chief’s UN Visa as Washington Pushes for Ceasefire

Image Credit: REUTERS

Tensions between the United States and Sudan have intensified after Washington reportedly withheld a visa for Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ahead of his planned appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, with sources linking the move to a US-backed 90-day ceasefire proposal.

Burhan was scheduled to address world leaders in New York, but Sudanese officials said his trip was postponed after he failed to secure the required US visa. Sudan has appealed to the United Nations for intervention, while the US government has not publicly confirmed that the visa was being made conditional on accepting the ceasefire.

The reported visa dispute comes as Washington steps up pressure on both sides of Sudan’s war. The US State Department said neither the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) nor the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), or their leaders, represent legitimate constitutional governance, and warned that Washington would increase the costs for those continuing the conflict.

The proposed truce, reportedly backed by US senior adviser Massad Boulos, is intended to establish a 90-day pause in fighting and create space for negotiations. The RSF has signalled support for a ceasefire proposal, while the army has resisted a blanket truce, arguing that such an arrangement could allow the RSF to regroup.

The dispute has also raised questions over the United States’ responsibilities as host of the UN headquarters. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the unresolved visa issue and urged the US to ensure visas are issued in accordance with its obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement. Sudan’s foreign minister, Mohieldin Salem, is representing the country in New York.

Burhan has led Sudan’s army in the war against the RSF since fighting erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between the two military factions. The conflict has devastated the country, killing tens of thousands of people and displacing millions, while creating severe hunger and humanitarian crises. Both sides have faced allegations of serious abuses against civilians.

The latest confrontation comes as Washington attempts to push the warring parties towards a political settlement while regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye and Pakistan have stressed the importance of Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and existing state institutions. The competing diplomatic approaches highlight the difficulty of securing a ceasefire while the two sides continue to pursue military objectives.

For now, the visa dispute remains unresolved publicly, with Washington yet to confirm the reported condition. But the episode has added another layer to an increasingly tense international effort to halt Sudan’s war, while raising fresh questions about how far the United States is prepared to go to pressure the military leadership into accepting a ceasefire.