Risch, Coons, Shaheen, Young to introduce the Sudan Accountability Act to Protect the Sudanese People, Hold Perpetrators of War Crimes Accountable

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.), today announced their intention to introduce the Sudan Accountability Act to respond to the civil war in Sudan that has been raging since April 2023.

"The Sudanese people continue to suffer unspeakable atrocities, including genocide and war crimes. It is past time the perpetrators of these atrocities be held accountable," said Risch. "While securing a ceasefire and addressing humanitarian needs are crucial, protecting civilians and preventing further atrocities must also be a priority. This legislation requires a clear strategy, resourcing, and leadership on Sudan by the U.S. government to protect civilian welfare, particularly that of women and children. Congress will oversee these efforts to ensure accountability is adequately pursued."

"It is time for Congress to act on Sudan," saidCoons. "Failing to act as the Sudanese people are forced to flee or die in their homeland is a choice that we do not accept. The Sudan Accountability Act will advance and protect the rights of all Sudanese, hold the perpetrators of war crimes and their supporters accountable, expand humanitarian access, and support efforts to bring an end to this disastrous conflict."

"The war in Sudan has created the most devastating humanitarian crisis in the world, including record rates of sexual- and gender-based violence committed in large part by the Rapid Support Forces," said Shaheen. "The international community must support the Sudanese people's demands for protection and justice and the warring parties must come to the table to end this war. I'm proud to introduce this legislation that sends an unmistakable, bipartisan message that the United States will seek accountability for any individual, state or entity that commits war crimes or crimes against humanity in Sudan and perpetuates this awful conflict."

"The situation in Sudan is heartbreaking and one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world," said Young. "The United States and the international community cannot ignore this situation, nor can we stand silent as external actors fuel the conflict. Our bipartisan legislation will shed a light on these atrocities, help hold the perpetrators of war crimes in Sudan accountable, and support a broad humanitarian response."

The Sudan Accountability Act is the most comprehensive bill introduced in the Senate to date to address the ongoing war in Sudan. The legislation takes important steps to shed light on the atrocities occurring in Sudan and determine if they constitute genocide, hold perpetrators and their supporters accountable, offer services to innocent civilians, and support the protection of the Sudanese people. It will:

• Advance and protect the internationally-recognized human rights of all Sudanese, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or geographic area of origin.
• Document war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide and hold perpetrators accountable.
• Mandate a strategy to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to vulnerable populations and prevent human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, and the recruitment of child soldiers.
• Authorize assistance to support victims of atrocities.
• Enhance civilian protection and evaluate options to deter attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers.
• Support mechanisms for dialogue and conflict resolution, and ensure inclusion of Sudanese women in these efforts.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Background:

As fighting has raged on for more than a year, the war in Sudan has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The brutal hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have devastated the country, and the Sudanese people have borne the cost. More than 20,000 Sudanese have been killed since fighting broke out last April. 10 million people have been displaced, two million of whom have had to leave the country as refugees, and more than 25 million people are suffering from severe hunger. Massacres in Darfur and other regions across the country by RSF militias have become regular occurrences. Neither side, nor their international backers, can truly say they have the interests of the Sudanese people at heart. Since usurping a democratic transition process in a coup in 2021, General Burhan and the SAF have consolidated control and shut out civil society. General Mohamed Hamdan Degalo or "Hemeti," the leader of the RSF, was content to be a kleptocrat under the SAF regime until he sought greater political power. Nations across Africa and the Middle East have been more concerned with securing access to Sudan's natural resources than with bringing an end to the fighting.

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