Sudan leader al-Burhan misses UN General Assembly due to visa issues

Sudanese de facto leader Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan has failed to attend the UN General Assembly in the United States due to a missing visa. His speech, originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon, did not take place as planned.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern regarding the situation, urging the United States, as the host nation, to ensure that visas are granted to facilitate the full participation of all delegations. The UN Secretariat has raised the matter with U.S. authorities.

The U.S. Department of State declined to comment on specific visa cases. This incident follows recent tensions, as U.S. government advisors previously stated that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces nor the RSF militia represent a legitimate constitutional government, a claim the Sudanese transitional government has rejected.

It remains unclear whether al-Burhan will eventually deliver his address or if Foreign Minister Mohi el-Din Salem will speak in his stead.