Confusion surrounded Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s planned trip to New York on Tuesday, with Sudanese media reporting that Prime Minister Kamil Idris is now expected to lead the country’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly.
Burhan had been scheduled to head the delegation and address the General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, but his travel plans have been thrown into doubt after the United States withheld an entry visa.
Sudan News reported on Tuesday evening that Idris would instead lead the delegation and deliver Sudan’s address before the assembly.
The outlet said Burhan had not left Khartoum by midday Tuesday, while conflicting accounts circulated over whether his US visa had effectively been denied or whether the application remained under consideration.
Burhan was also reported conducting official business in Khartoum on Tuesday, including a meeting with leaders from the Supreme Council of Kawahla Tribes, adding to indications that he had not departed for New York as previously expected.
Meanwhile, videos circulated on Sudanese social media purporting to show Burhan being received in the United States. Sudan News said the footage was not current and dated from an earlier visit in 2024.
The uncertainty represents a sharp change from reports earlier this week that Burhan would personally lead Sudan’s delegation to New York. Some Sudanese outlets had reported as recently as Monday that he was preparing to attend the annual gathering.
Reuters reported earlier Tuesday that Washington was withholding Burhan’s visa, citing a letter from Sudan’s UN ambassador and sources familiar with contacts between US and Sudanese officials.
According to Reuters, issuance of the visa appeared to have been linked to Burhan agreeing to a proposed 90-day ceasefire put forward by US Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos.
The US State Department declined to comment on Burhan’s individual visa case.
Sudan’s ambassador to the United Nations has asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intervene, while the UN Secretariat has raised the matter with US authorities. Guterres was described as deeply concerned by the situation.
The latest developments leave uncertainty over whether Burhan could still travel if a visa is issued at the last minute.
For now, however, there has been no independently verified indication that Burhan has reached New York, while reports from Sudan point to Idris taking over leadership of the delegation.
Sudan is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
