Third Anniversary of International Indictments Against Sudanese President Bashir for Genocide in Darfur

Floor Speech

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, last week marked the third anniversary of when the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, the sitting President of Sudan, on three counts of genocide related to Darfur. Four years ago, Bashir was indicted on two counts of war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity.

On Sunday, Bashir traveled to Nigeria to a red-carpet welcome and full guard of honor despite demands from human rights activists that Nigeria arrest him to face trial on genocide charges.

This is an outrage, Madam Speaker.

Congressmen WOLF, CAPUANO, and I have introduced H.R. 6092, the Sudan Peace, Security and Accountability Act. This bill strengthens sanctions against Sudan and requires a comprehensive strategy to address the many conflicts and human rights crimes occurring in Sudan, including the international strategy to enforce the ICC arrest warrants against Bashir and other Sudanese officials.

I ask my House colleagues to join us in this effort, to cosponsor H.R. 1692, and to move it to the House floor for approval in the 113th Congress.

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