[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 432 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 432
Condemning the attacks on peaceful protesters and supporting an
immediate peaceful transition to a civilian-led democratic government
in Sudan.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 10, 2019
Mr. Kildee (for himself, Mr. Engel, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Bilirakis)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the attacks on peaceful protesters and supporting an
immediate peaceful transition to a civilian-led democratic government
in Sudan.
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 Government of Sudan 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, killing more
than 100 people since the demonstrations began;
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 has stated that his Transitional Military Council is
committed to transferring power to a civilian government, but the
Council has yet to reach consensus with opposition representatives on a
transitional arrangement;
Whereas protesters have maintained their vigil in Khartoum, despite the reported
arrest of Bashir, calling for the military to transfer power to a
civilian-led transitional authority that will end Sudan's civil wars,
address the country's economic crisis, and lay the foundations for
democratic elections;
Whereas the delay by the Transitional Military Council in meeting 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'', has led to rising tensions;
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.
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