Saudi Arabia has asked Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to postpone a planned visit to Riyadh next week, in what Sudanese newspaper Al-Sayha described as another diplomatic setback for the army-aligned Port Sudan authorities.
The newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing informed sources, that the Saudi leadership had requested the postponement amid escalating tensions, raising fresh questions about the military leadership’s relations with Riyadh.
According to the report, Burhan personally contacted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to seek clarification over the decision and the reasons behind the unexpected delay.
The circumstances surrounding the Saudi request remain unclear, with no explanation provided for the postponement or indication of when the visit might be rescheduled.
The reported development comes as Burhan faces mounting diplomatic pressure over Sudan’s war and efforts to secure a humanitarian ceasefire.
Washington recently withheld a visa for Burhan’s planned attendance at the United Nations General Assembly, with Reuters reporting that the move was linked to US efforts to secure his acceptance of a proposed 90-day ceasefire.
The reported Saudi postponement would mark another disruption to Burhan’s international diplomatic engagements as negotiations over a possible end to Sudan’s war continue.
Neither Riyadh nor the Port Sudan military authorities has publicly detailed the reasons for the reported postponement.
