Sudan Demands The United Nations Intervene To Ensure Al-Burhan’s Access To The General Assembly Podium
Sudan’s Permanent Representative To The United Nations, Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith, Requested In A Letter To Secretary-General António Guterres Immediate Intervention With The Host Country’s Authorities “At The Highest Appropriate Level.”
This Came After The United States Has So Far Refrained From Issuing An Entry Visa For The President Of The Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan Abdelrahman, Who Is Scheduled To Deliver Sudan’s Address Before The 81st Session Of The General Assembly On Thursday, September 24.
The Letter Confirmed That The Sudanese Government Completed All Required Procedures For The Participation Of The President Of The Sovereignty Council In The High-Level Week. It Warned That The Continuation Of This Situation Will Effectively Prevent The Head Of A UN Member State From Personally Participating In The Work Of The General Assembly.
The Ambassador Relied On The Headquarters Agreement Concluded Between The United Nations And The United States In 1947. This Agreement Prohibits The American Authorities From Imposing Any Obstacles To The Access Of Representatives Of Member States To The Organization’s Headquarters, Whatever The Nature Of The Relations Between Their Governments And Washington, And Obligates Them To Grant Their Visas Free Of Charge And As Quickly As Possible. He Also Recalled General Assembly Resolution 80/172 Issued In December 2025, Which Expressed Serious Concern Over Recurrent Instances Of Visa Denials And Delays, Specifically Including The Non-Issuance Of A Visa To A Head Of State To Attend The General Debate.
The Letter Emphasized That The Right Of Member States To Full Participation In The Work Of The Organization Must Not Be Tied To Bilateral Political Calculations. It Demanded The Issuance Of The Visa For The President And The Members Of His Official Delegation Without Any Further Delay.
