US Ties Burhan's UN Visa to 90-Day Ceasefire; Sudan Urges Guterres to Intervene

The United States withheld an entry visa for Sovereignty Council chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and members of his official delegation ahead of the UN General Assembly, with sources saying Washington made his attendance contingent on accepting a 90-day ceasefire proposed by US Senior Advisor Massad Boulos; Burhan rejected the take-it-or-leave-it framing, saying any proposal was 'subject to suggestions and changes.' State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said on September 22, 2026 that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces nor the RSF have legitimate authority to rule Sudan, stating 'the conduct of each leader of the warring factions renders them ineligible to govern the country' and that both 'rule through force of arms alone,' warning Washington would raise the costs of continuing the conflict for both sides. Sudan's UN Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith wrote to Secretary-General António Guterres requesting 'immediate intervention' with US authorities, saying the visa denial would effectively bar the head of state of a UN member from participating in the General Assembly; Guterres was described as 'deeply concerned,' and the UN Secretariat raised the matter with US authorities.