US reportedly withholds al-Burhan's UN visa over 90-day truce plan

September 24, 2026 at 11:25 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The US has reportedly withheld a visa from Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ahead of the UN General Assembly. The move is said to pressure him into accepting a 90-day ceasefire proposed by US adviser Massad Boulos. Neither Khartoum nor Washington has commented.

Key Facts

Reuters reported that the US conditioned al-Burhan's visa on his acceptance of a 90-day ceasefire proposed by Massad Boulos.
AFP quoted two diplomatic sources saying Washington refused to issue the visa, with one calling it a 'clear violation of the UN's agreement with the US'.
Sudan's UN ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith wrote to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requesting 'immediate intervention' with US authorities.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres was 'deeply concerned' that the visa had reportedly not been issued.
Sudanese activists Mamoun al-Sheikh and Sayed Al-Mazaj denounced the move as 'political pressure' on social media.

Visa Withholding Reports

Reuters, citing Sudanese sources, reported on Tuesday that the US was withholding al-Burhan's visa and had made its issuance contingent on him agreeing to a 90-day ceasefire proposed by Massad Boulos, US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs. AFP, quoting two diplomatic sources, also reported that Washington refused to issue the visa. One source called the move a 'clear violation of the UN's agreement with the US' while another said the visa had been 'conditioned' on al-Burhan accepting the three-month truce. Neither the Sudanese government nor the US Department of State has commented on the reports.

UN and Diplomatic Reaction

Sudan's UN ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith, wrote to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to request the UN's 'immediate intervention' with US authorities, according to Reuters. Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for Guterres, said the UN chief was 'deeply concerned' that the visa had reportedly not been issued. Dujarric told AFP that the UN Secretariat has urged the US, as host country, to ensure visas were issued in accordance with its obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement and in time for al-Burhan to participate in the General Assembly.

Activist Outcry

Sudanese activists and journalists criticised the US over the reported visa withholding, taking to social media on Wednesday to slam the move as 'political pressure'. Activist Mamoun al-Sheikh denounced the US move in a Facebook post, saying: 'Even if the visa is withheld, it will not silence Sudan's voice.' Another activist, Sayed Al-Mazaj, described linking the visa to a proposed 90-day ceasefire as 'a tool for political pressure'. General al-Burhan, whose army has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, was scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday in New York.