Chris Smith Decries Atrocities and Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

• ⚠️ The hearing examines the conflict in Sudan, focusing on widespread atrocities against civilians and US policy options.
• 💔 Sudan is described as facing a catastrophe with unbearable pain, suffering, loss of life, and even slavery.
• 😭 Decades of violence, including the genocide in Darfur, have been met with paralysis by the international community.

Historical Context and Personal Testimony

• 🕯️ Congressman Smith recalls a 1996 hearing on slavery in Sudan and Mauritania and his 2005 meetings with President Omar al-Bashir regarding the genocide in Darfur.
• 🗣️ Testimony from refugee camps in Darfur detailed rape, beatings, and massacres by the Janjaweed and Sudanese militias.
• 🤝 Efforts by former officials like Nicole Wittershine, Sam Brownback, and Frank Wolf are highlighted for their advocacy and visits to Sudan.

Current Atrocities and Famine

• 🚨 The humanitarian situation has severely deteriorated, with 21 million people facing acute food insecurity and 6.5 million near famine, described as a man-made famine.
• 🧒 Recent attacks by the RSF include killing over 100 civilians, including 63 children, and then attacking first responders and ambulances.
• 📈 Since April 2023, an estimated 150,000 people have been killed and over 10 million displaced.

Accountability and External Factors

• ⚖️ Peace in Sudan requires accountability for atrocities committed by General Al-Burhan (SAF) and General Dagalo (RSF), who have operated with impunity.
• 🚫 The legitimacy granted to Al-Burhan by the UN Secretary-General is questioned, given his alleged involvement in atrocities.
• 💰 External factors fueling the conflict include illicit Sudanese gold smuggled by the RSF through the UAE, Russian interest in a naval base, and Iranian drones bolstering the SAF.

Calls for Action

• 🛑 There is a call for more action and a cessation of hostilities, demanding that external financing and arms flows stop.
• 🌍 The UAE must cease support for the RSF, and Turkey and Iran must halt military assistance to the SAF.
• 🔍 Crimes against humanity, including mass rape and ethnic targeting, must be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable.
• 🚫 It is proposed that the RSF be designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).