Condemning Attacks on Peaceful Protesters and Supporting Transition to A Civilian-Led Democratic Government in Sudan

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise in support of H. Res. 432, and I want to commend my good friend and colleague, Mr. Kildee, for his leadership on this issue. I also want to commend the incredible work of Chairman Engel for all he has done on this issue, as well as Chairwoman Bass and Mr. Bilirakis and others here.

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to express my unwavering support for the people of Sudan in their long-held desire to live in a democratic nation, a nation where all the Sudanese people live in dignity and where their rights and freedoms are respected and protected.

For three decades, the people of Sudan have suffered under the brutal, genocidal regime of Omar al-Bashir. They were murdered, mutilated, bombed, starved, imprisoned, tortured, and raped by Bashir's army, air force, police, intelligence unit, and paramilitary allies, formerly known as the Janjaweed and now organized as the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces.

Villages were burned to the ground, churches destroyed, radio stations and the press shut down, protests violently repressed, and food and medicine denied to populations at risk.

Last December, the people of Sudan rose up in massive protests across the country and said: Enough. No more. The time for change is now.

On April 11, Bashir was removed from office by the Sudanese military. But instead of turning the government over to the civilian-led council, they took power for themselves.

On May 16, 92 Members of Congress sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the administration expressing support for a civilian-led transition in Sudan and concern about the military's escalating violence against the peaceful protesters, which I include in the Record. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, May 16, 2019. Hon. Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC. Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC.

Dear Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Mnuchin: We write to express our deep concern about the current situation in Sudan and our support for a rapid transfer of power to a civilian- led transitional government committed to laying the foundations for democracy in the country. This is a critical moment for Sudan, one that came about because the Sudanese people took to the streets to demand it. It is also critical for the United States to support Sudanese citizen's demands for real democratic change.

We welcome the April 18th statement by the State Department supporting ``a transition to a peaceful and democratic Sudan led by civilians who represent the diversity of Sudanese society,'' and expressing support for the ``will of the Sudanese people'' for ``a transitional government that is inclusive and respectful of human rights and the rule of law.'' We appreciate the efforts of the Africa Bureau to update congressional offices about the changing situation in Sudan. We also acknowledge the African Union's condemnation of the military takeover as a coup d'etat and its demand that the military ``step aside and hand over power to a transitional civilian-led political authority, in accordance with the will of the people'' by June 3rd. We also welcome U.S. efforts to bring together like-minded nations and donors to emphasize international support for a civilian-led transition.

The military leadership who have taken power are attempting to create the appearance of change, but elements and structures of the old regime remain. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) does not meet the aspirations so clearly articulated by months of peaceful pro-democracy protests that demanded an inclusive, civilian-led democratic change. A government dominated by the military is not the goal of the Sudanese people and the longer the protestors' demands remain unfulfilled, there is increased probability of conflict like the violence against protestors, deaths and injuries that occurred this week.

We support your decision to continue Sudan's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) and to suspend Phase II discussions. Congress also has a role to play in law regarding changes to Sudan's status as a state sponsor of terrorism. We encourage close consultation with and the consent of Congress should the Administration seek to alter the SST designation or provide further economic relief to Sudan, actions which at the current moment would be inappropriate and premature. We understand that rapidly changing events on the ground might require a corresponding change in U.S. policy and we are ready to work as equal partners in decisions that advance civilian democratic governance, respect for human rights, including religious freedom, and rule of law.

The United States must send a clear message that the path to international credibility and American partnership will only come through credible civilian leadership. We encourage you to use all mechanisms and leverage to facilitate, as quickly as possible, an inclusive civilian-led transition to democratic governance. The United States should make clear to foreign governments that have expressed support for the TMC that a civilian transition that reflects the will of the Sudanese people is nonnegotiable.

In this regard, we are dismayed by the announcement from the Governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that they intend to provide Sudan with $3 billion in budget support and aid. We urge you to use all appropriate diplomatic and political channels to discourage such a transfer of funds. If funds are disbursed, this will likely encourage the TMC to delay a civilian-led transition.

The Sudanese people will rightly determine matters of justice regarding the crimes of the previous regime, given the millions of people who suffered and perished under its deliberate and repressive actions. It is important for you, Mr. Secretaries, to emphasize that former President Bashir and other officials and military officers of his regime are internationally indicted for war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide. It is an urgent matter of international law that they face trial and judgement on these charges.

There are additional actions that we strongly encourage you to take in your respective capacities as Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury:

When a civilian-led transitional council is established-- one supported by the pro-democracy movement and the Sudanese people--it is vital that the United States press for unimpeded access by international humanitarian aid agencies so that they may finally deliver, without interference or conditions, emergency relief to populations in conflict areas such as South Kordofan, Blue Nile and northern Darfur. We understand this is also a current priority for the U.S. and other aid donors, but unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to these regions is likely to remain stalled until inclusive civilian rule is established.

To support and increase the capacity of civilian leadership and civil society, the United States should provide transitional civilian authorities and entities with technical and capacity-building assistance.

The United States, in consultation with Congress, should signal its willingness to engage with and support international financial institutions in aiding Sudan once civilian-led transitional authorities are in place and functioning.

The State Department should not issue visas to any Sudanese official to travel to the United States until credible civilian-led government is in place and functioning independently. Nor should any Sudanese or TMC official be issued a visa who has been internationally indicted, or who might be subject to justice in Sudan for war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.

Treasury, in consultation with the State Department and relevant congressional committees, should continue to use the sanctions authorities provided under the Global Magnitsky program to target key Sudanese individuals, officials, entities and networks.

Recognizing Sudan's extensive corruption, money-laundering operations and theft of state resources, it is critical for the United State to provide leadership on preventing funds from being moved out of the country during this period when the former Bashir regime is being pushed aside but current regime structures remain in place. The Treasury Department should issue public advisories to banks and other financial institutions regarding the risk of such capital flight and other high-risk transactions from Sudan, such as the gold trade. This would be an action like the one taken by Treasury in 2014 related to Ukraine. It is also critical that the Treasury Department continue to track and respond aggressively to similar transfers of funds that occurred prior to Bashir's downfall.

Thank you for your attention to these urgent concerns and recommendations. We look forward to working together and developing a new policy framework consistent with American values and the aspirations of the Sudanese people. Sincerely, James P. McGovern; Ann Wagner; Karen Bass; Jeffrey A. Merkley; Todd Young; Christopher H. Smith; Chris Van Hollen; Tina Smith; Gary C. Peters; Roger F. Wicker; Richard J. Durbin; Richard Blumenthal; Elizabeth Warren. Eliot L. Engel; Barbara Lee; Adam B. Schiff; Nita M. Lowey; Frank Pallone, Jr.; Maxine Waters; Zoe Lofgren; Raul M. Grijalva; Michael T. McCaul; Gus M. Bilirakis; Barry Loudermilk; Steve Watkins, Mark Meadows; Elijah E. Cummings; John A. Yarmuth; John Lewis. Naydia M. Velazquez; David Trone; Chellie Pingree; Gwen S. Moore; Gregory W. Meeks; Yvette D. Clarke; Jan Schakowsky; Donald M. Payne, Jr.; Peter A. DeFazio; Eleanor Holmes Norton; Sheila Jackson Lee; Grace Meng; Jared Huffman; Bonnie Watson Coleman; Federica S. Wilson; Joaquin Castro. Earl Blumenauer; Mike Doyle; Pramila Jayapal; Jim Costa; David N. Cicilline; Suzanne Bonamici; Steve Cohen; Ilhan Omar; Jamie Raskin; Bobby L. Rush; Mark Pocan; Daniel T. Kildee; Andy Levin; Seth Moulton; Chrissy Houlahan; Jennifer Wexton. Jose E. Serrano; Donald S. Beyer, Jr.; Alan S. Lowenthal; Darren Soto; Val Butler Demings; Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr.; Stephen F. Lynch; Ruben Gallego; Anna G. Eshoo; Emanuel Cleaver, II; Peter Welch; Albio Sires; Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.; Andre Carson; Lori Trahan; Mark DeSaulnier. Paul D. Tonko; Danny K. Davis; Ron Kind; Ro Khanna; Rosa L. DeLauro; Ann McLane Kuster; William R. Keating; Adriano Espaillat; Katherine M. Clark; Brian Higgins; Richard E. Neal; Joseph P. Kennedy, III; Eddie Bernice Johnson; Ayanna Pressley; Norma J. Torres.

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, we had good reason to be concerned. Just 2 weeks later, in a clear demonstration of how little has changed, the Sudanese police and RSF, under the leadership of the Transitional Military Council's second in command, General Hemeti violently attacked the unarmed protesters, killing, wounding, and raping hundreds.

In an act of great cowardice and complicity, the Sudanese military chose to withdraw from the scene or stood by and watched the attack, doing nothing to protect the people. The Transitional Military Council then shut down the internet so information about the massacre couldn't come out. Last week, they were forced to restore the internet, and the world has now seen hundreds of videos documenting this heinous crime.

On Saturday, thousands demonstrated to mark the 40 days since the deadly crackdown. Right now, African mediators are attempting to broker the details of a power-sharing agreement between the forces of freedom and change people's alliance in the Transitional Military Council.

I hope that they are successful in reaching a deal that guarantees a genuine civilian-led transition and democratic governance, but I don't want to see the civilian-led democratic reform movement undermined and forced to accept a bad deal, one where power and the corrupt and brutal structures of the former regime remain under military control.

Mr. Speaker, like so many of my colleagues, I have been engaged on the issue of Sudan for nearly 15 years. On April 28, 2006, I led Members of Congress, religious, and NGO leaders in an act of civil disobedience at the Sudanese Embassy to highlight the atrocities taking place in Darfur. It was my first of three such direct actions.

On May 1 of that year, I joined over 50 of those people on The National Mall to protest the genocide in Darfur. I took my young son and daughter to see how people from all walks of life came together in solidarity with the people of Sudan and demanded action.

Mr. Speaker, my children are now grown and in college, so I am not exaggerating when I say that what we are seeing happening today in Sudan is a once-in-a-generation moment for the people of Sudan. We cannot be silent.

Along with all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I want the people of Sudan to know that we stand with them, that we have always stood with them, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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