Widespread reactions to the United States' refusal to grant Al-Burhan an entry visa

Cairo: September 23, 2026 — Radio Dabanga: The United States' refusal to grant an entry visa to Al-Burhan to participate in the United Nations General Assembly meetings and address its proceedings has sparked widespread reactions. Reuters quoted a Sudanese diplomatic source and a Western analyst close to American and Sudanese officials as saying that issuing the visa is contingent upon Al-Burhan's agreement to sign a 90-day ceasefire, which had been proposed by the United States advisor for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos. Legal perspective: Legal expert Nabil Adib provided a detailed legal analysis via Radio Dabanga regarding the crisis over the United States' refusal to grant an entry visa to the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. He explained that the entire issue is subject to the provisions of international law and international agreements governing the operations of UN institutions, and cannot be subjected to or evaluated based on the internal immigration and border control laws of the United States. Adib emphasized that the primary and governing reference for this incident is the UN Headquarters Agreement concluded between the international organization and the United States in 1947, which is an agreement binding the host country to facilitate the movement of delegations and official representatives of member states. Adib cited articles 11 through 13 of this agreement, which explicitly and directly state that U.S. authorities may not impose any obstacles or restrictions that would limit the access of member state representatives to the UN headquarters in New York or their departure from it. Adib added that the agreement clearly stipulates that visas must be granted to delegations and state representatives as quickly as possible and free of charge, stressing that this obligation applies automatically regardless of the nature of political or diplomatic relations existing between the U.S. government and the government of the state in question. The legal expert explained that setting conditions or delaying the issuance of a visa for reasons related to political disputes or attempting to impose certain positions is considered a departure from the spirit and text of the international agreement. He confirmed that the position expressed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres perfectly reflects the legal weight of the host country's obligations and the necessity of respecting them to facilitate the work of the General Assembly without any side pressures. Al-Burhan refuses: Al-Burhan had stated in an article published by the American magazine 'Foreign Policy' yesterday, Monday, that he would reject any external directives regarding the war, noting that previous truces had only enabled the Rapid Support Forces and their backers to reorganize their ranks. Al-Harith Idris, the Sudanese Ambassador to the UN, requested in a letter dated September 21, which was reviewed by Reuters, that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres intervene immediately with U.S. authorities to ensure the issuance of the visa. The letter stated: 'If this situation continues, the head of state of a UN member country will effectively be prevented from participating in person in the work of the General Assembly.' About 130 heads of state and government are participating in the UN General Assembly meetings during the high-level week, while the general debate is being held from September 22 to 26 and will resume on the 28th, before a special meeting on nuclear weapons on September 29. A high-level ministerial meeting on the Sudanese crisis was held as part of the General Assembly events. Furthermore, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan held a meeting in which they affirmed their commitment to the unity of Sudan and its legitimate institutions.