Title: Condemning the attacks on peaceful protesters and supporting an immediate peaceful transition to a civilian-led democratic government in Sudan.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the people of Sudan and their right to peacefully assemble and express their demands for political change. It condemns the government of Sudan's use of violence and arbitrary detention against peaceful protesters, and calls for an immediate transfer of power by the military to an inclusive, civilian-led government.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 432 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 432

    Condemning the attacks on peaceful protesters and supporting an 
 immediate peaceful transition to a civilian-led democratic government 
                               in Sudan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 10, 2019

 Mr. Kildee (for himself, Mr. Engel, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Bilirakis) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Condemning the attacks on peaceful protesters and supporting an 
 immediate peaceful transition to a civilian-led democratic government 
                               in Sudan.

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;
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 Government of Sudan 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, killing more 
        than 100 people since the demonstrations began;
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 has stated that his Transitional Military Council is 
        committed to transferring power to a civilian government, but the 
        Council has yet to reach consensus with opposition representatives on a 
        transitional arrangement;
Whereas protesters have maintained their vigil in Khartoum, despite the reported 
        arrest of Bashir, calling for the military to transfer power to a 
        civilian-led transitional authority that will end Sudan's civil wars, 
        address the country's economic crisis, and lay the foundations for 
        democratic elections;
Whereas the delay by the Transitional Military Council in meeting 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'', has led to rising tensions;
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 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 association 
                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
            (9) calls upon the people of Sudan to work together to 
        resolve conflicts peacefully.
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