Sudanese political analyst Al-Nour Hamad said the reported postponement of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia could signal growing regional pressure on the military leadership in Port Sudan.
Hamad said in a post on X that reports that Riyadh had postponed the requested visit indefinitely could indicate what he described as a significant shift in the regional diplomatic climate surrounding the army-aligned Port Sudan authorities.
He characterised the development as a possible sign of increasing diplomatic isolation for the military leadership, saying there appeared to be a sharp change in regional attitudes.
Saudi Arabia has not publicly confirmed that it rejected a visit by Burhan or explained why the reported trip was postponed.
The remarks follow reports that Riyadh asked Burhan to delay a planned visit to the kingdom. The Sudan Times reported on Tuesday, citing Sudanese media, that Burhan subsequently contacted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the decision.
Burhan and Mohammed bin Salman spoke by telephone on Tuesday, with Saudi Arabia’s official news agency saying the crown prince reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to Sudan’s stability, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The Saudi statement made no reference to the reported postponement.
The episode comes amid wider diplomatic pressure on Sudan’s military leadership. The United States withheld a visa for Burhan’s planned attendance at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this month, with Reuters reporting that Washington linked the issue to efforts to secure agreement on a proposed 90-day humanitarian ceasefire.
Hamad argued that, taken together, the developments could point to a changing regional and international environment for the Port Sudan military authorities, although neither Riyadh nor Saudi officials have publicly characterised their relations with Burhan in those terms.
