U.S. Restricts Movement of Sudanese Delegation in New York
The United States has placed strict travel limits on a Sudanese delegation visiting New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The group, led by Prime Minister Dr. Kamel Idris and appointed by Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, is now confined to a 25-mile radius of Columbus Circle in Manhattan, according to U.S. State Department officials.
Restricted Movement Under U.S. Law
The travel curb falls under the American Foreign Missions Act, which gives Washington authority to limit the activities and movements of foreign diplomats inside the U.S. Any trips outside the designated zone require prior approval from the Office of Foreign Missions. Similar restrictions have previously been applied to delegations from Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Brazil, signaling U.S. disapproval of certain regimes.
Diplomatic Message to Al-Burhan
Analysts say the decision underscores growing international distrust of Sudan’s transitional government, led by Al-Burhan from Port Sudan. While the delegation was in New York, Al-Burhan himself did not attend UNGA, a move that further fueled speculation about his government’s political isolation.
“The restrictions reduce Sudan’s delegation to guarded visitors rather than full diplomatic partners,” said one regional analyst. “It’s a clear sign Washington does not view Al-Burhan as a credible or reliable figure in international relations.”
Broader Implications
The move comes as the Quartet—United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt—pushes forward peace talks to stabilize Sudan. By limiting the delegation’s movements, the U.S. signaled that it does not see Al-Burhan as the sole voice of Sudan’s political future and is open to alternative leadership paths.
Washington’s action also highlights a broader strategy: to influence Sudan’s fragile political transition and prevent further instability in the Horn of Africa. For Al-Burhan, it marks another sign of shrinking diplomatic space at home and abroad.
