US says Sudan’s warring leaders unfit to rule, warns of rising costs

September 22, 2026 (WASHINGTON) – The United States declared on Tuesday that neither the Sudanese army nor the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have legitimate authority to rule Sudan, warning both sides that Washington will raise the costs of continuing the conflict.

State Department spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said in a statement that the rival commanders’ conduct had rendered them ineligible to govern.

Neither faction represents constitutional governance, Pigott said, accusing both sides of ruling purely through force of arms.

Washington said neither force had made serious commitments to an immediate ceasefire and had instead escalated combat operations and drone strikes that killed civilians.

The United States has repeatedly called on both parties to accept an unconditional humanitarian truce and commit to political dialogue leading to a civilian-led transition, Pigott said.

Calling the conflict the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, he said President Donald Trump remained committed to supporting a peace plan with credible partners.

In the meantime, the U.S. will seek to raise the cost of continued conflict on all belligerents and the networks that fuel the fighting, the statement added.

The sharp U.S. rebuke followed a diplomatic standoff over Washington’s decision not to grant an entry visa to Sudan’s Sovereign Council head, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Sudan on Tuesday urged U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intervene over the visa denial.

A Sudanese diplomatic source and a Western analyst close to U.S. and Sudanese officials told Reuters the visa appeared to have been conditioned on Burhan agreeing to a 90-day ceasefire proposed by Massad Boulos, U.S. senior advisor for Arab and African affairs.

Burhan rejected the condition, the sources said.

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