Sudan Calls for UN Action Against Foreign Backers of RSF
Sudanese foreign minister urges international pressure on countries accused of supplying the paramilitary force, warning that foreign interference remains a major obstacle to peace.
September 28, 2026 United Nations
Sudan has renewed its call for the international community and the United Nations to take stronger action against countries accused of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), arguing that ending foreign military and logistical assistance is essential to bringing Sudan’s devastating conflict to an end.
Sudan Raises Burhan Visa Dispute at UN
Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salim delivered remarks on behalf of Sovereign Council leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Salim said Burhan had been unable to attend the gathering because the United States, as the UN host country, did not issue him an entry visa despite interventions by the UN Secretariat and Secretary-General. Sudan called on the General Assembly and the UN Committee on Relations with the Host Country to investigate the matter, arguing that the decision breached the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement.
Foreign Support Blamed for Prolonging Sudan War
Salim told the General Assembly that Sudan seeks a “just peace” but argued that lasting stability would remain difficult as long as outside powers continued to supply weapons, fighters and other forms of assistance to armed groups operating inside the country.
He accused foreign actors of seeking to exploit Sudan’s mineral resources and its strategically important Red Sea coastline while contributing to the continuation of the conflict.
According to Salim, neighbouring countries have allowed the RSF to use their territories to launch military operations, receive supplies and provide medical treatment to wounded fighters.
Sudan Accuses Neighbouring States
Sudanese authorities have previously accused Ethiopia of allowing the RSF to conduct drone operations toward Blue Nile State, including the city of Ed Damazin. Sudan has also accused Chad of facilitating weapons and logistical shipments reaching the RSF from Libya and other locations.
These claims represent accusations made by Sudanese authorities amid a wider regional dispute over foreign involvement in the conflict.
Khartoum Opposes Nationwide Arms Embargo
Salim strongly rejected proposals to expand the existing Darfur arms embargo to cover the whole of Sudan. He argued that imposing broader restrictions could weaken the Sudanese Armed Forces while giving an advantage to the RSF and foreign fighters supporting it.
The foreign minister also criticized the UN Security Council for what he described as its failure to formally identify and condemn external sponsors of the paramilitary force.
Sudan Rejects Equating Army With RSF
Another major focus of Salim’s address was international treatment of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. He rejected approaches that place the two forces on an equivalent footing, maintaining that the Sudanese military represents the state while the RSF is an armed force rebelling against state institutions.
Salim also called for the RSF to be designated a terrorist organization, accusing the group of responsibility for widespread atrocities, particularly in Darfur following the fall of El Fasher.
He argued that international silence over alleged abuses had failed Sudanese civilians, especially women and girls who have endured severe suffering during the conflict.
Disarmament Presented as Key to Lasting Peace
According to Salim, a sustainable political settlement must include the dismantling of the RSF, the disarmament of non-state armed groups and the restriction of weapons to Sudan’s official military institutions.
The Sudanese government maintains that these measures are necessary to restore state authority and create the conditions required for long-term peace and stability.
Transition Roadmap and Elections
Salim said Sudan remained engaged with UN Personal Envoy Pekka Haavisto on the basis of a national transition roadmap submitted to the Security Council in December 2025.
The roadmap is intended to guide Sudan through an inclusive political transition and eventually toward free and fair elections. However, Salim ruled out political reconciliation with civilian groups that the government considers aligned with the RSF, accusing them of complicity in violence in Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile.
Sudan Presses International Community for Action
The address underscored the Sudanese government’s position that foreign involvement is a major factor prolonging the conflict. Khartoum is pressing the United Nations and the wider international community to address alleged external support for the RSF while advancing a political process aimed at restoring state authority and eventually moving Sudan toward elections.
Sudan’s appeal places renewed attention on the regional dimensions of the war and the role the international community could play in efforts to halt the fighting and pursue a lasting political settlement.
