Sudan Rejects US Military Legitimacy Claim, RSF

• Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected a US statement questioning the legitimacy of the Sudanese army on September 23, 2026.
• The US State Department had previously stated that neither the Sudanese army nor the RSF represent legitimate rule, governing instead by force of arms.
• Sudan demanded that any peace talks must not legitimize the Rapid Support Forces' actions or reward their rebellion.
• The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that peace initiatives must respect Sudan's sovereignty, unity, and legitimate institutions, and address external interference.
• The United States denied a visa to Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan's Sovereign Council and army commander, preventing his attendance at the UN General Assembly.

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly rejected attempts by the United States to question the legitimacy of the Sudanese army.

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly rejected attempts by the United States to question the legitimacy of the Sudanese army. On September 23, 2026, the ministry issued a statement asserting that any political or negotiation process must not serve to legitimize the current situation created by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

This strong declaration came in direct response to a statement from the US State Department, issued on September 22, 2026. The American diplomatic body had declared that neither the Sudanese army nor the RSF represent a legitimate or constitutional government, asserting instead that both entities govern through military force. The US further indicated its readiness to escalate the consequences for all factions involved in the ongoing conflict, as well as for the networks that sustain them.

In its official communiqué, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its unequivocal rejection of the US statement. It underscored Sudan's unwavering commitment to its national sovereignty and urged the United States to engage constructively with the Sudanese government. This call for positive engagement, the ministry noted, aligns with previous US statements that acknowledged and respected Sudan's sovereignty and national integrity.

The Sudanese government has outlined critical prerequisites for any future peace initiatives. It emphasized that such efforts must be grounded in a profound respect for Sudan's sovereignty, national unity, territorial integrity, and its established legitimate national institutions. Furthermore, the ministry insisted that any peace process must comprehensively address the underlying causes perpetuating the conflict, with a particular focus on what it termed 'negative external interference.'

Crucially, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its position that no political or negotiation framework should be manipulated to confer legitimacy upon the circumstances engineered by the RSF. It explicitly stated that such processes must not be allowed to reward the rebellion for its documented atrocities against civilians, the state, and its rightful institutions. The ministry also firmly rejected any notion of equating the insurgent forces with the legitimate governmental structures of Sudan.

Adding to the diplomatic friction, the United States declined to issue a visa to Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who serves as both the head of Sudan's Sovereign Council and the commander of its army. This refusal prevented al-Burhan from attending the United Nations General Assembly.

Al-Burhan had been scheduled to deliver Sudan's address at the prestigious international forum on September 25, 2026. The denial of his entry visa underscores the deepening complexities and challenges in the diplomatic relationship between Sudan and the United States amidst the ongoing internal conflict.

Source: Original reporting via Sudan Tribune