Sudanese activists and journalists have criticized the United States following reports that Washington withheld a visa from army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. The move is seen as an apparent attempt to pressure him into accepting a ceasefire proposal to end the country's ongoing civil war.

General al-Burhan, Sudan's de facto leader since 2019, has been leading the Sudanese army in a conflict against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises, impacting millions.

Media reports, citing Sudanese sources and diplomatic officials, indicated that the US made the visa issuance contingent on al-Burhan agreeing to a 90-day ceasefire. One diplomatic source described the action as a "clear violation of the UN’s agreement with the US," while another stated the visa had been "conditioned" on acceptance of the three-month truce.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the reported visa denial. His spokesman stated that the UN Secretariat has urged the US, as the host nation, to ensure visas are issued in accordance with its obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement, allowing al-Burhan to participate in the General Assembly.

Sudanese officials have not officially commented on the reports. However, Sudan's UN ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith, reportedly wrote to Guterres requesting the UN's "immediate intervention" with US authorities regarding the visa.

Activists have voiced strong opposition on social media. Mamoun al-Sheikh, a Sudanese activist, denounced the reported US move, stating on Facebook that "Even if the visa is withheld, it will not silence Sudan’s voice." Another activist, Sayed Al-Mazaj, criticized linking the visa to the proposed truce, suggesting it was "political pressure."

Al-Burhan was scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday in New York. He has spoken at the assembly twice since the conflict began in 2023. The US has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to mediate a resolution to the conflict.

The controversy highlights the complex diplomatic pressures surrounding the Sudanese conflict and the role of international bodies like the UN in facilitating dialogue between warring factions. Unresolved questions remain regarding the official stance of both the Sudanese government and the US Department of State on the visa issue and the potential impact on ongoing peace efforts.