Sudanese military leader discusses with UN Secretary General situation in Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Sudan’s military leader, Lieutenant General Adel Fattah Al Burhan, Friday conferred with UN Secretary-General Antonio Gueterres, on the sideline of the UN General Assembly’s meetings, over the current political situation in the Sudan and the precarious security in the various regions.
Burhan is the first Sudanese head of state to take part in the UN meeting in over two decades since Sudanese heads of state were barred from entering American soil on grounds that Sudan was sponsoring international terrorism.
Since 1997, Omar Bashir and his top aides could not take part in UN meetings because the US administration declined to provide them with entry visas.
Burhan, who held full control of the government since October 2021, when he removed the cabinet led by then Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdouk, travelled to the United States after taking part in the burial ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
He delivered Sudan’ statement and held a series of meetings with African leaders on the sidelines of the current session of the UN General Assembly.
In a terse statement, the UN said Burhan, Chairperson of the Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, conferred with Guterres on the current situation in the Sudan and efforts to restore a credible civilian government that would pave the way for a general election
The statement said Mr. Guterres expressed serious concern about the continuing political crisis in Sudan, as well as the rapidly deteriorating security, economic and humanitarian situations.
The UN Secretary-General also “emphasized the urgent need for an inclusive political agreement that restores the civilian-led political transition in order for the Sudanese people to realize their aspirations for sustainable peace, an inclusive democracy and economic prosperity".
The Sudanese government is yet to issue its version of the meeting.
Burhan’s visit to the United States was highly played by the main stream media in Khartoum as initial reports were saying the Sudanese military leader could be barred from entry as a group of lawyers, mostly supporters of the deposed Prime Minister Hamdouk, were preparing an arrest warrant against him the moment he landed there.
It was also widely publicized that Americans of Sudanese origin were organizing marches and protests to press for change in the Sudan.
-0-PANA MO/RA 24Sept2022
