H. Res. 432 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

July 15, 2019. 

Whereas in 2016, the Government of the United States 

launched a plan aimed at reducing conflict and expanding 

humanitarian access in Sudan, improving counterterrorism cooperation, ending Sudan’s negative interference 

in South Sudan, and addressing the threat of the Lord’s 

Resistance Army, that, according to the Department of 

State, led to significant progress in these areas and resulted in the lifting of some United States sanctions on 

Sudan in October 2017; 

Whereas the Department of State announced ‘‘Phase II’’ of 

the bilateral reengagement framework with Sudan in November 2018, under which the United States would consider rescinding Sudan’s designation as a state sponsor 

of terrorism if the country met the relevant statutory criteria for delisting and if the Government of Sudan made 

progress along six identified areas of concern related to 

counterterrorism cooperation, humanitarian access, respect for human rights, a cessation of internal hostilities 

and a conducive environment for peace processes, efforts 

to address outstanding terrorism-related legal claims, and 

adherence to United Nations Security Council resolutions 

on North Korea; 
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Whereas despite the Government of Sudan’s pledge to cease 

hostilities, the United Nations Panel of Experts on the 

Sudan reported in January 2019 that forces of the Government of Sudan had launched ‘‘large-scale military operations’’ against insurgents in the Jebel Marra region of 

Darfur in 2018 and that elements of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and associated militia were implicated in indiscriminate shootings, rape, acts of torture, and other 

inhumane treatment of civilians; 

Whereas the Department of State’s country reports on 

human rights practices describe reports of serious human 

rights violations by Sudan’s intelligence service and military, including the Rapid Support Forces, citing credible 

reports that villages in Jebel Marra were targeted for attack in 2018, resulting in the displacement of thousands 

of civilians and noting that Sudan’s Rapid Support 

Forces were implicated in the majority of reported 

human rights violations against civilians in the country; 

Whereas contrary to the requirements of Phase II, humanitarian organizations report that humanitarian access restrictions have persisted, including bureaucratic interference, and reports of serious human rights abuses and 

media censorship increased after Phase II was launched; 

Whereas in December 2018, protests that began in Damazin 

and Atbara spread across the country, with thousands of 

Sudanese gathering to demand political change; 

Whereas the Sudanese authorities responded to the protests 

by detaining hundreds of people, including protesters, 

members of the political opposition, civil society, journalists, and more than a dozen American citizens, and by 

using excessive and lethal force against protesters; 
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Whereas in late February 2019, President Bashir declared a 

yearlong nationwide state of emergency, dissolving the 

Federal and State governments and appointing senior 

military officers to key government posts, banning unauthorized gatherings, demonstrations, and strikes, expanding authorization for searches, seizures, and arrests, and 

barring news deemed to undermine his government; 

Whereas tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of protesters 

gathered in Khartoum on April 6, 2019, calling for the 

end of the government of President Bashir, and on April 

11, 2019, he was ousted from power by the military and 

replaced by Defense Minister and First Vice President 

Lt. Gen. Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, who later ceded power 

to Military Inspector General and Army Chief Lt. Gen. 

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan; 

Whereas Lt. Gen. Burhan stated that his Transitional Military Council is committed to transferring power to a civilian government, but the Council has sought to maintain the military’s dominance in negotiations with opposition representatives on a transitional arrangement; 

Whereas protesters maintained their vigil in Khartoum, calling for the military to transfer power to a civilian-led 

transitional authority that would end Sudan’s civil wars, 

address the country’s economic crisis, and lay the foundations for democratic elections; 

Whereas the Transitional Military Council has not met the 

demands of the protesters and the African Union Peace 

and Security Council to ‘‘step aside and hand over power 

to a civilian-led transitional authority, in accordance with 

the will of the people and constitutional order’’; 
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Whereas on June 3rd, elements of Sudanese security forces, 

led by the Rapid Support Forces, violently dispersed the 

sit-in of the protesters and killed over 100 people, with 

hundreds more injured and reports of rape and other 

human rights abuses committed; 

Whereas negotiations between the Transitional Military 

Council and the opposition coalition, known as the Forces 

for Freedom and Change, on the composition and powers 

of a transitional government are complicated by the role 

of individuals in the Military Council who have been accused of war crimes, by the Council’s insistence on Islamic Sharia law as the basis for laws, and by security 

forces use of live fire against protesters in the cities of 

Nyala, Zalingei, and Khartoum, resulting in multiple 

deaths, during the talks; and 

Whereas in the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act of 2004, 

Congress expressed its sense that individuals found to be 

involved in the planning or carrying out of genocide, war 

crimes, or crimes against humanity should not hold leadership positions in the Government of Sudan: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan 

and strongly supports the right of the Sudanese people 

to assemble peacefully and express their legitimate demands for fundamental political change, including a 

democratic, civilian-led government; 

(2) condemns the Government of Sudan’s use of violence and arbitrary detention against peaceful protesters and the harassment and intimidation of medical 
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professionals, journalists, human rights defenders, political opposition, and civil society actors; 

(3) strongly supports an immediate transfer of 

power by the military to an inclusive, civilian-led government that reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people 

and puts Sudan on the path toward democracy and 

peace; 

(4) condemns efforts by regional actors to undermine negotiations between the Military Council and the 

protesters, including efforts to offer financial support to 

military leaders; 

(5) encourages the African Union and its member 

states to continue supporting the Sudanese people’s aspirations for democracy, justice, and peace; 

(6) urges the United States Government to continue 

efforts to convene and work with the international community in support of a civilian-led government in Sudan; 

(7) emphasizes that a more positive and productive 

relationship between the United States and Sudan requires meaningful political reform, greater accountability, and a clear demonstration by the Government of 

Sudan of greater respect for human rights; 

(8) calls upon Sudanese authorities to— 

(A) immediately cease attacks on protesters 

and civilians, respect the right to freedom of asso-
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ciation and expression, and investigate protester 

deaths and pursue accountability for serious crimes 

and human rights abuses that have occurred in the 

past three decades; 

(B) protect the rights of political parties, journalists, human rights defenders, religious minorities, and nongovernmental organizations to operate 

without interference and release political prisoners; 

(C) lift the bureaucratic restrictions on, and 

facilitate unhindered access across the country for, 

humanitarian relief operations; 

(D) introduce strong measures to create transparency and address the structural corruption and 

kleptocracy of the state; 

(E) meaningfully engage with opposition forces 

in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile with 

the aim of achieving a just and sustainable peace; 

and 

(F) foster conditions for a viable transition to 

democracy, economic stability, and sustainable 

peace and development; and 
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(9) calls upon the people of Sudan to work together 

to resolve conflicts peacefully. 

Attest: 

Clerk.