- The United States had not issued Burhan’s visa before his planned September twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-six, address to the United Nations General Assembly.
- Sources said officials linked the visa to accepting a ninety-day ceasefire; the State Department declined to discuss his individual case.
- Sudan asked the United Nations to intervene, while its foreign minister could speak if Burhan cannot travel.
The United States withheld a visa for Sudanese army chief and de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ahead of his planned address to the UN General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2026. His trip remained in doubt.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres, said the UN chief was “deeply concerned that a visa has reportedly not yet been issued.” The UN Secretariat was engaging with U.S. authorities, he said.
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The issue remained unresolved on September 23, 2026. A senior Sudanese source said Burhan had postponed his trip but had not received official notice of a denial.
Sudan’s foreign minister may deliver the address instead if Burhan cannot travel. The planned speech would be his third before the assembly since the war began.
Washington linked the visa to a proposed truce
Sudanese and Western sources said U.S. officials tied visa issuance to Burhan’s acceptance of a U.S.-backed 90-day ceasefire proposal. They associated the condition with Massad Boulos, the U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs.
A diplomatic source described the reported requirement as a three-month truce. “Conditioned the visa on Burhan accepting a three-month truce,” the source said.
The State Department declined to discuss the individual case. A spokesperson said: “As a general matter, we do not comment on Department actions with respect to specific visa cases.”
In a statement on September 22, 2026, the department said neither the army nor the Rapid Support Forces, “nor their respective leaders, represent legitimate, constitutional governance for Sudan.” It did not comment on the reported visa condition.
Sudan appealed to the UN over access to its meeting
Sudan’s UN ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith, asked the secretary-general to intervene in a letter dated September 21, 2026. He warned that the visa dispute could stop Sudan’s leader from participating in person.
The UN Headquarters Agreement requires the host country to facilitate access for representatives of member states. Sudan’s appeal rests on that obligation.
A diplomatic source called withholding the visa a “clear violation of the UN’s agreement with the US.” The dispute has raised questions about whether the planned address can proceed in person while the visa remains pending.
The war and a coup shape Burhan’s standing at the UN
Burhan has led Sudan’s army since fighting against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023. He has addressed the General Assembly twice since the war began.
His position also follows a break with Sudan’s previous civilian transition. The African Union and Western powers withdrew recognition after the 2021 coup led by Burhan and RSF head Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo against civilian rule.
The army and the RSF remain the rival forces in the war. The State Department’s statement addressed both groups and their leaders, saying neither represents legitimate constitutional governance.
The General Assembly speech could therefore be delivered by a different Sudanese official if travel remains blocked. Reports identified the foreign minister as a possible speaker, while Burhan’s visa issue was still unresolved as the September 24 address approached.
