House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Meeks Statement Marking Three Years of War in Sudan

Washington, D.C. - Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement marking three years since the start of the civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces:

"For three years, the Sudanese people have suffered unimaginable atrocities, including genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced disappearances, rape, and starvation. Women, children, and the elderly bear the brunt of these hardships. Nearly 34 million people are in need of life-saving assistance-more than any country in the world.

"The United States must do more to end this war. Today, I have joined Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Rep. Sara Jacobs in introducing a resolution denouncing the conflict, and Rep. Jonathan Jackson and Rep. Sara Jacobs in introducing a bill requiring a determination on designating the Rapid Support Forces as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization. Congress should quickly advance these measures, which call on the Trump administration to take clear, decisive action to stop this senseless violence and secure an agreement to end this brutal conflict.

"I also reiterate my call for the House Foreign Affairs Committee to mark up my U.S. Engagement in Sudanese Peace Act, which bans U.S. arms sales to any country supplying the warring parties, holds perpetrators of atrocities accountable, and mandates a comprehensive U.S. strategy to end this horrific conflict. Another year of pain and suffering for the people of Sudan is not inevitable. There is a better path forward with concentrated U.S. action."

A PDF of the resolution introduced by Representative Jayapal, Ranking Member Meeks, and Africa Subcommittee Ranking Member Sara Jacobs can be found here.

A PDF of the bill introduced by Representative Jonathan Jackson, Ranking Member Meeks, and Africa Subcommittee Ranking Member Sara Jacobs, requiring a determination on designating the RSF as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization, can be found here.