Genesee News

WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08) today introduced bipartisan legislation, supported by Republicans and Democrats, calling for additional efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Sudan and support the transition to a democratically elected government. This is the first bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives responding to the conflict since it began in April.

“The fighting in Sudan has created a humanitarian disaster and has brought the country to the brink of civil war. The United States must continue delivering aid to the Sudanese people while working to negotiate an end to this conflict,” said Congressman Dan Kildee. “We must also support the brave civilians who stood up to Sudan’s military dictatorship in 2019 and continue to demand a transition to democracy and lasting peace for their country.”

On April 15, fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, for control of Sudan. The ongoing violence has created a humanitarian crisis for the region and further stalled the Sudanese people’s hopes for a transition to democracy under civilian rule. Thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, and the United Nations has said attacks on civilians in the eastern region of Darfur may be crimes against humanity

The bipartisan resolution:

• Condemns the violence in Sudan, including attacks against civilians, and supports international and U.S.-led efforts to facilitate a ceasefire.
• Urges the continued use of United States sanctions against actors that are undermining Sudan’s peace and stability, violating human rights or impeding a democratic transition, with safeguards that ensure the continued flow of humanitarian assistance.
• Calls on the President of the United States to appoint a Special Envoy to Sudan.

The full legislation can be viewed here.

Congressman Kildee introduced this legislation with Reps. Young Kim (CA-40), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ami Bera (CA-06), John James (MI-10), Jim Baird (IN-04), Tom Kean (NJ-07) and Colin Allred (TX-32).

“A threat to freedom anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere. The people of Sudan continue to show their support for a civilian led democratic government and deserve our support,” said Congresswoman Kim, member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa. “I am proud to lead a bipartisan resolution to demonstrate bipartisan Congressional support for the people of Sudan and call for a long overdue ceasefire and peaceful transition of power.”

“Since the violence broke out in Sudan, thousands of civilians have been killed, millions have been trapped without food, water, or electricity, and millions more have been displaced – without any signs of the fighting letting up,” said Congresswoman Jacobs, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa. “The Sudanese people have experienced enough bloodshed and want peace, stability, and the civilian-led rule they voted for. That’s why I’m proud to support this bipartisan resolution that condemns the ongoing violence, urges more human rights monitoring, and calls for a Presidential Special Envoy to Sudan to help bring this conflict to an end. The only path forward for a sustainable political solution to this crisis is one that is led by Sudanese civilians.”

“The Sudanese people deserve the opportunity to live in a free and democratic country with a government that will ensure the protection of basic human rights for its citizenry,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “In March 2019, I had an opportunity to see first-hand the extraordinary resilience and determination of the Sudanese people when I visited Khartoum and saw them resist oppression at the hands of war criminal Omar al-Bashir. While they prevailed in that fight to overthrow tyranny, they now face another tragic threat to their existence.  I will continue working with my colleagues to raise awareness of their plight and to advance the cause of freedom. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has already killed several thousand civilians, injured many more, and led to a massive humanitarian crisis that has prompted the displacement of countless civilians.  I urge the stakeholders involved to find a peaceful resolution to the brutal fighting that has led to the oppression and persecution of so many.”

“Thank you, Congressman Kildee, for introducing this bipartisan legislation, and for supporting the Sudanese people throughout this conflict and in their long struggle for democracy. We are grateful for your leadership in advancing peace and stability for Sudan,” said Dr. Seif Saeed of Grand Blanc, MI, Vice President of the American Sudanese Committee.

Congressman Kildee has been a strong advocate for the Sudanese people and Sudan’s democratic transition. In March 2022, Kildee led a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power encouraging action to support Sudan's endangered democratic transition. In July 2022, the House of Representatives passed a Kildee-backed resolution condemning the October 2021 military coup in Sudan led by Generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Original source can be found here.