This week, U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan, shared his thoughts on that region to U.S. Sec. of State Rex Tillerson, urging the Trump administration to “implement a strong, effective strategy that reflects American values and promotes peace and stability throughout this volatile region, where man-made conflict has resulted in famine and the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis.”
Rooney teamed up with U.S. Reps. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., and Barbara Lee, D-Calif., his fellow co-chairs of the caucus, to write Tillerson on the subject on Tuesday.
“We are writing to offer our perspective on immediate actions you can take to improve the United States’ diplomatic and humanitarian policies with respect to these two countries to alleviate the costs of war paid by the people of Sudan and South Sudan and the international community,” they wrote. “We are concerned about the recent easing of sanctions and increasing trade with Sudan. It is critical that the actions of the government be closely monitored to determine if these steps towards normalcy actually result in an improved situation on the ground for the people of Sudan. The past record of the government of Sudan and its leaders encourage skepticism about their commitment to improved relations. We are particularly concerned about their commitment to allowing increased humanitarian access to the abused populations of the Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile regions.”
Rooney and his fellow co-chairs urged Tillerson to keep Congress informed on sanctions and cracking down on weapons sales while allowing aid in Sudan. They also called for the State Department to “leverage these sanctions provide to compel President Bashir’s government to implement a ceasefire, revitalize the dormant peace process in Sudan, and allow aid to finally reach the millions of Sudanese people trapped in areas that the government currently blocks from humanitarian access.”
Rooney, Capuano and Lee also called on Tillerson to focus on the continued problems in South Sudan.
“We were deeply disappointed that in December of 2016, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) rejected a U.S.-proposed resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan,” they wrote. “Despite evidence of the government of South Sudan’s ongoing acquisition and employment of heavy weapons systems for use against its own citizens and warnings from the UN of an impending genocide, we were equally troubled by the Obama Administration’s failure to enact a unilateral arms embargo or targeted sanctions on the government forces responsible for the utter collapse of the state.
“We are unfortunately now witnessing the direct results of the government’s failure to reach a political solution to end the violence as well as the failure of our current strategy toward South Sudan,” they added. “On February 20, famine was officially declared in parts of South Sudan and the international community expects that approximately 4.9 million people – 42 percent of South Sudan’s population – may experience famine, emergency, or crisis levels of food insecurity through April. We want to be very clear – this famine is man-made. While humanitarian assistance is urgently needed to save lives, a political solution and an end to violence is paramount. And while President Salva Kiir promised ‘unimpeded access’ to humanitarian aid organizations, just last week his government hiked the fee for work permits for foreign aid works from $100 to $10,000."
Rooney, Capuano and Lee urged Tillerson “impose an arms embargo on South Sudan and work with international partners and the countries in the region to ensure its effective implementation in order to stem the escalating ethnic violence and avert the imminent risk of genocide in the country” and “impose strict, targeted sanctions on senior-level individuals and their networks of enablers and facilitators who are responsible for perpetrating and directing the ongoing violence and undermining efforts to end the conflict.” The three caucus co-chairs also urged the Trump administration name a “high-level Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan in order to bring much-needed leadership to our diplomatic efforts to create a lasting peace in both countries and the region more broadly.”
“Supporting peace and justice for the victims of mass atrocities and genocide has long been a bipartisan issue supported by faith groups and human rights advocates from across the political spectrum,” they concluded. “As members of Congress deeply engaged in this issue, we expect regular updates and briefings (including classified briefings as appropriate) from the administration. We look forward to working with you to develop and implement a strong, effective strategy that reflects American values and interests, counter terror and extremism, and promote peace and stability in Sudan and South Sudan.”
In recent months, Rooney has been focusing on the Sudan and South Sudan. Back in September, Rooney introduced a bill banning arms sales to South Sudan. In December, Rooney rounded up almost 20 members of Congress to sign a letter to the UN urging it to stop arm sales to South Sudan.
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