Sudan military leader defies U.S. ceasefire push after visa denial

Sudanese military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has rejected a United States-backed push for a ceasefire following the decision by Washington to withhold his visa for the United Nations General Assembly. The dispute highlights the deepening conflict in Sudan, which has evolved into both a massive humanitarian crisis and a strategic struggle for influence near the Red Sea.

Speaking from Khartoum, Burhan expressed defiance, stating, “We will keep our heads high. We will not accept bargaining, sell ourselves cheaply to anyone or bow to anyone.” He added that Sudan does not require permission or visas from other nations.

The U.S. State Department has criticized both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), asserting that neither side has made meaningful commitments to a 90-day humanitarian truce. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that the conduct of both commanders makes them “ineligible to govern the country,” noting that both factions have intensified combat operations and drone strikes that have resulted in civilian deaths. Washington continues to urge an unconditional truce and an inclusive political dialogue to restore civilian rule.