General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Sudanese army chief, who has been embroiled in a protracted conflict with paramilitaries for several months, is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
This development was confirmed by his office on Wednesday. General Burhan, who has effectively led Sudan since a coup in 2021, will lead the Sudanese delegation to the annual UN session, as stated by the Sovereignty Council, which he currently heads. This announcement comes as Burhan has intensified his diplomatic efforts on the international stage in recent weeks.
The army chief’s decision to visit New York follows his relocation to Port Sudan last month, having previously been based at the army headquarters in Khartoum, which was under siege since the outbreak of conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, on April 15.
Analysts have speculated that General Burhan’s diplomatic offensive is aimed at bolstering his legitimacy, especially in anticipation of potential negotiations to end the ongoing hostilities.
In his recent diplomatic efforts, Burhan has already visited several countries, including Egypt, South Sudan, Qatar, Eritrea, Turkey, and Uganda.
During his upcoming visit to the United Nations, General Burhan is expected to address the UN General Assembly and participate in various “high-level meetings” on the sidelines, according to the statement released by the Sovereignty Council.
The conflict in Sudan has had devastating consequences, with a reported death toll of at least 7,500 people, as documented by the NGO Acled. Additionally, the United Nations reports that more than five million individuals have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing violence.
General Burhan’s address at the UN General Assembly is anticipated to shed light on the current situation in Sudan and potentially pave the way for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.
