[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 432 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 432

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         July 15, 2019.
Whereas in 2016, the Government of the United States launched a plan aimed at 
        reducing conflict and expanding humanitarian access in Sudan, improving 
        counterterrorism cooperation, ending Sudan's negative interference in 
        South Sudan, and addressing the threat of the Lord's Resistance Army, 
        that, according to the Department of State, led to significant progress 
        in these areas and resulted in the lifting of some United States 
        sanctions on Sudan in October 2017;
Whereas the Department of State announced ``Phase II'' of the bilateral 
        reengagement framework with Sudan in November 2018, under which the 
        United States would consider rescinding Sudan's designation as a state 
        sponsor of terrorism if the country met the relevant statutory criteria 
        for delisting and if the Government of Sudan made progress along six 
        identified areas of concern related to counterterrorism cooperation, 
        humanitarian access, respect for human rights, a cessation of internal 
        hostilities and a conducive environment for peace processes, efforts to 
        address outstanding terrorism-related legal claims, and adherence to 
        United Nations Security Council resolutions on North Korea;
Whereas despite the Government of Sudan's pledge to cease hostilities, the 
        United Nations Panel of Experts on the Sudan reported in January 2019 
        that forces of the Government of Sudan had launched ``large-scale 
        military operations'' against insurgents in the Jebel Marra region of 
        Darfur in 2018 and that elements of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces and 
        associated militia were implicated in indiscriminate shootings, rape, 
        acts of torture, and other inhumane treatment of civilians;
Whereas the Department of State's country reports on human rights practices 
        describe reports of serious human rights violations by Sudan's 
        intelligence service and military, including the Rapid Support Forces, 
        citing credible reports that villages in Jebel Marra were targeted for 
        attack in 2018, resulting in the displacement of thousands of civilians 
        and noting that Sudan's Rapid Support Forces were implicated in the 
        majority of reported human rights violations against civilians in the 
        country;
Whereas contrary to the requirements of Phase II, humanitarian organizations 
        report that humanitarian access restrictions have persisted, including 
        bureaucratic interference, and reports of serious human rights abuses 
        and media censorship increased after Phase II was launched;
Whereas in December 2018, protests that began in Damazin and Atbara spread 
        across the country, with thousands of Sudanese gathering to demand 
        political change;
Whereas the Sudanese authorities responded to the protests by detaining hundreds 
        of people, including protesters, members of the political opposition, 
        civil society, journalists, and more than a dozen American citizens, and 
        by using excessive and lethal force against protesters;
Whereas in late February 2019, President Bashir declared a yearlong nationwide 
        state of emergency, dissolving the Federal and State governments and 
        appointing senior military officers to key government posts, banning 
        unauthorized gatherings, demonstrations, and strikes, expanding 
        authorization for searches, seizures, and arrests, and barring news 
        deemed to undermine his government;
Whereas tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of protesters gathered in Khartoum 
        on April 6, 2019, calling for the end of the government of President 
        Bashir, and on April 11, 2019, he was ousted from power by the military 
        and replaced by Defense Minister and First Vice President Lt. Gen. Ahmed 
        Awad Ibn Auf, who later ceded power to Military Inspector General and 
        Army Chief Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan;
Whereas Lt. Gen. Burhan stated that his Transitional Military Council is 
        committed to transferring power to a civilian government, but the 
        Council has sought to maintain the military's dominance in negotiations 
        with opposition representatives on a transitional arrangement;
Whereas protesters maintained their vigil in Khartoum, calling for the military 
        to transfer power to a civilian-led transitional authority that would 
        end Sudan's civil wars, address the country's economic crisis, and lay 
        the foundations for democratic elections;
Whereas the Transitional Military Council has not met the demands of the 
        protesters and the African Union Peace and Security Council to ``step 
        aside and hand over power to a civilian-led transitional authority, in 
        accordance with the will of the people and constitutional order'';
Whereas on June 3rd, elements of Sudanese security forces, led by the Rapid 
        Support Forces, violently dispersed the sit-in of the protesters and 
        killed over 100 people, with hundreds more injured and reports of rape 
        and other human rights abuses committed;
Whereas negotiations between the Transitional Military Council and the 
        opposition coalition, known as the Forces for Freedom and Change, on the 
        composition and powers of a transitional government are complicated by 
        the role of individuals in the Military Council who have been accused of 
        war crimes, by the Council's insistence on Islamic Sharia law as the 
        basis for laws, and by security forces use of live fire against 
        protesters in the cities of Nyala, Zalingei, and Khartoum, resulting in 
        multiple deaths, during the talks; and
Whereas in the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act of 2004, Congress expressed its 
        sense that individuals found to be involved in the planning or carrying 
        out of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity should not hold 
        leadership positions in the Government of Sudan: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan and strongly 
        supports the right of the Sudanese people to assemble peacefully and 
        express their legitimate demands for fundamental political change, 
        including a democratic, civilian-led government;
            (2) condemns the Government of Sudan's use of violence and arbitrary 
        detention against peaceful protesters and the harassment and 
        intimidation of medical professionals, journalists, human rights 
        defenders, political opposition, and civil society actors;
            (3) strongly supports an immediate transfer of power by the military 
        to an inclusive, civilian-led government that reflects the aspirations 
        of the Sudanese people and puts Sudan on the path toward democracy and 
        peace;
            (4) condemns efforts by regional actors to undermine negotiations 
        between the Military Council and the protesters, including efforts to 
        offer financial support to military leaders;
            (5) encourages the African Union and its member states to continue 
        supporting the Sudanese people's aspirations for democracy, justice, and 
        peace;
            (6) urges the United States Government to continue efforts to 
        convene and work with the international community in support of a 
        civilian-led government in Sudan;
            (7) emphasizes that a more positive and productive relationship 
        between the United States and Sudan requires meaningful political 
        reform, greater accountability, and a clear demonstration by the 
        Government of Sudan of greater respect for human rights;
            (8) calls upon Sudanese authorities to--
                    (A) immediately cease attacks on protesters and civilians, 
                respect the right to freedom of association and expression, and 
                investigate protester deaths and pursue accountability for 
                serious crimes and human rights abuses that have occurred in the 
                past three decades;
                    (B) protect the rights of political parties, journalists, 
                human rights defenders, religious minorities, and 
                nongovernmental organizations to operate without interference 
                and release political prisoners;
                    (C) lift the bureaucratic restrictions on, and facilitate 
                unhindered access across the country for, humanitarian relief 
                operations;
                    (D) introduce strong measures to create transparency and 
                address the structural corruption and kleptocracy of the state;
                    (E) meaningfully engage with opposition forces in Darfur, 
                Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile with the aim of achieving a 
                just and sustainable peace; and
                    (F) foster conditions for a viable transition to democracy, 
                economic stability, and sustainable peace and development; and
            (9) calls upon the people of Sudan to work together to resolve 
        conflicts peacefully.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.