Risch, Coons, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Address Conflict in Sudan

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chris Coons (D-Del.), alongside John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Preventing External Aggression and Conflict Escalation (PEACE) in Sudan Act of 2026. This legislation will address the ongoing conflict in Sudan and hold the perpetrators, aiders, and abettors accountable.

"The war in Sudan is a humanitarian catastrophe, a source of instability in Africa, and a threat to U.S. national security. We cannot allow Sudan to continue devolving into chaos, causing uncontrolled migration, human suffering, and serving as a haven for terrorists. This bill is a bipartisan effort to provide the Trump Administration with additional tools to raise the costs of this war for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and their proxies to bring this war to an end," said Chairman Risch.

"The ongoing civil war in Sudan is the globe's largest humanitarian crisis, and yet the world has spent too much time closing its eyes to three years of atrocities and death," said Senator Coons. "This war will only end with a diplomatic solution, and every responsible nation must push all sides to the bargaining table to achieve a durable and lasting peace in Sudan. The United States stands with the people of Sudan and their decades-long fight for the peace and justice they deserve."

"The Sudanese people are enduring the world's worst humanitarian and displacement crisis, while the RSF, SAF and their external backers continue to pursue a zero-sum war that has no military solution," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "The bipartisan PEACE in Sudan Act will give the United States additional tools to hold perpetrators, aiders and abettors accountable to punish those who are fueling this violence and bolster negotiations to end this war. I urge swift passage of this bill by the full Senate and call on the Administration to support and fund a robust humanitarian response to address the unbearable suffering of millions of Sudanese. The Sudanese people deserve peace and prosperity, and a stable Sudan would fundamentally benefit regional security, Red Sea commerce and U.S. national security."

"Prolonged armed conflict in Sudan has led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis, caused the deaths of tens of thousands of Sudanese civilians, and created a deteriorating regional security environment that offers a breeding ground for malign actors," said Senator Cornyn. "I am proud to cosponsor this legislation that would sanction those providing weapons to armed groups, direct the State Department to submit a strategy for securing a ceasefire in Sudan, and advance efforts to bring about peace and stability in the region to strengthen U.S. national security."

The PEACE in Sudan Act:

1. Calls on the Secretary of State to assess whether armed actors in Sudan meet the criteria for designation as Specially Designated Global Terrorists;
2. Provides the Administration with an updated and expanded discretionary sanctions regime;
3. Provides guardrails on the types of non-lifesaving foreign assistance the U.S. can provide- directly or through multilateral institutions-to Sudan;
4. Requires an update to the Sudan Business advisory to provide U.S. businesses with additional information about the risks of doing business in Sudan and the supply chains of Sudanese natural resources;
5. Extends the authorization for a U.S. special envoy for Sudan to bolster dedicated U.S. diplomatic resources related to addressing the war;
6. Provides for greater information sharing with Congress to address the Sudan conflict by requiring the State Department to submit regular reports detailing:
7. 1. the activities of foreign governments and non-state armed groups supporting the warring parties;
   2. atrocities being committed; and
   3. information on countries holding assets for the warring parties
8. And encourages the State Department to explore opportunities to build a stronger international coalition focused on ending the conflict in Sudan.

Text of the bill can be found HERE.

Background:
Since April 2023, the SAF and the RSF have engaged in a zero-sum war for control of Sudan fueled by support from regional and global proxies. The RSF has committed genocide and other mass atrocities against non-Arab communities and perceived opposition. The SAF and allied militias-including entrenched Islamist elements-have likewise targeted civilians through starvation, chemical attacks and other atrocities, further destabilizing the region.

There is broad consensus that the only path to peace and recovery in this conflict is through negotiation. The conflict in Sudan is the cause of the worst humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world. 14 million people-one quarter of the population-have fled their homes. 19.5 million people in Sudan face acute food insecurity, of which 5 million are living in emergency or famine conditions.

In the past, Chairman Risch has led successful efforts to name the atrocities committed by the RSF in Darfur a genocide, called for sanctions against the leaders of both the RSF and SAF, and encouraged the State Department to lead the international community in diplomatic efforts to end the war.

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