[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 37 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[Pages 1909-1910]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Situation in Sudan

September 9, 2004

    The United States is appalled by the violence in Darfur, Sudan. Our 
Government has led the international effort to end the suffering there 
by speaking clearly about the crisis and sending assistance to the 
suffering. We have provided more than $211 million in aid and 
humanitarian relief, and we will provide an additional $250 million. To 
end the conflict, we helped broker a cease-fire and worked closely with 
the African Union to deploy monitors and soldiers to investigate 
violations.
    I sent Secretary of State Powell to Darfur and Khartoum to demand 
that the Sudanese Government act to end the violence. We sponsored a 
strong Security Council resolution, which passed on July 30. This 
resolution called on the Government to disarm the Janjaweed militias 
which have terrorized the people of Darfur and bring their leaders to 
justice. Secretary Powell later sent a team of investigators into the 
refugee camps to interview the victims of atrocities. As a result of 
these investigations and other information, we have concluded that 
genocide has taken place in Darfur. We urge the international community 
to work with us to prevent and suppress acts of genocide. We call on the 
United Nations to undertake a full investigation of the genocide and 
other crimes in Darfur.
    The Government of Sudan has not complied with U.N. Security Council 
resolutions and has not respected the cease-fire which it signed. The 
rebels are also guilty of cease-fire violations and failing to carry out 
past commitments. It is clear that only outside action can stop the 
killing. My Government is seeking a new Security Council resolution to 
authorize an expanded African Union security force to prevent further 
bloodshed. We will also seek to ban flights by Sudanese military 
aircraft in Darfur.

[[Page 1910]]

    The world cannot ignore the suffering of more than 1 million people. 
The U.S. will continue to help relieve suffering, as we demand that the 
Janjaweed disarm, and that the Government, Janjaweed, and Darfur rebels 
end the violence.