US Denies Visa to Sudan’s Al-Burhan Amid Diplomatic Standoff

The standoff marks a new low in the relationship between Washington and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). While the State Department demands both the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commit to a 90-day truce and a path toward civilian governance, al-Burhan maintains that imposed external peace deals are unsustainable. His administration argues that a ceasefire would only grant the RSF, which has been locked in combat with the army since April 2023, the time needed to regroup for further offensives.

This diplomatic friction coincides with a broader shift in American policy. On Tuesday, the State Department declared that neither the SAF nor the RSF possess legitimate, constitutional authority over Sudan. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that Washington intends to raise the economic and political costs for all belligerents and the networks sustaining the war. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has arrived in New York to engage with the international community, signaling a preference for alternative political partners.

The conflict has triggered a catastrophic humanitarian emergency, displacing nearly 14 million people. According to UN data, 33.7 million Sudanese currently require urgent assistance as the violence continues to defy all international mediation efforts.