Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem has rejected a US position that neither the army nor the RSF and their leaders represent Sudan’s legitimate government.
Speaking at a news conference in New York on Friday on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Salem said Khartoum remained open to dialogue but would not accept externally imposed solutions.
“The Sudanese government is open to dialogue, but it does not accept foreign interference or externally imposed solutions on the government of Sudan, which represents the Sudanese people,” Salem said.
“Khartoum’s position is based on its commitment to national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Sudan,” he added.
The US State Department said: “Neither the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, nor their respective leaders, represent legitimate, constitutional governance for Sudan.”
Khartoum rejects US statement
The Sudanese government rejected the US position on Wednesday, reaffirming its commitment to national sovereignty and calling on Washington to “engage positively” with Khartoum.
Addressing the war, Salem said the conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023 had been “imposed on the people of Sudan”, accusing external parties of financing and arming the conflict and the RSF of rebelling against the army.
He said the government had participated in Jeddah negotiations in May 2023, which produced understandings that could have helped contain the conflict, but accused the RSF of reneging on them.
The army and the RSF signed the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan on May 11, 2023, committing to respect international humanitarian law and facilitate humanitarian work.
Dispute over Burhan's UN visit
The news conference also addressed the US decision not to issue an entry visa to Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to attend the UN General Assembly.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the failure to issue the visa, while Khartoum has raised questions over US obligations as the host country of the UN headquarters.
Sudan has been engulfed in war between the army and the RSF since April 2023, killing tens of thousands of people and triggering one of the world’s largest displacement crises.
