U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on conflict and humanitarian emergency in Sudan - May 2024
Last week, the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee held an emotional hearing on the conflict and humanitarian emergency in Sudan. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello provided updates on the current situation and recent U.S. efforts before taking questions.
Special Envoy Perriello captured the urgency of the moment well at the end of his opening comments, saying:
“As we speak, Sudan faces two distinct but accelerating trajectories – one towards famine and possibly a failed state, and the second towards peace and a democratic future. The only two barriers to ending this war are, first, the political will of two Generals and those fueling this horrific war, and second the absence of enough political will by those of us who could compel a peace. Our North Star is the aspirations of the Sudanese people. Our path is building and aligning enough will in the region to silence the guns and restore the Constitutional transition. That path can be paved, but time is very much not on our side.”
While the situation in Sudan looks pretty bleak in the near to medium term, Special Envoy Perriello did articulate how the United States is tightening up it’s efforts to bring the war to an end, get emergency relief to starving people, and document atrocities. This is a welcome development considering how scattershot American policy has been since the war began.
You can watch the entire hearing above. We understand it is long and encourage you to at least watch the exchange between Special Envoy Perriello and Senator Cory Booker beginning at 1:10:30. Both were recently in Sudanese refugee communities in eastern Chad. We’ve pulled forward a few noteworthy points below as well.
Summary
Special Envoy Perriello confirmed that the current trajectory in Sudan is toward famine. He was clear that U.S. policy is to end the war and restore the constitutional transition that began years ago, without a power-sharing agreement between “bad actors.”
The Biden Administration has elevated Sudan across “the interagency.” This simply means that multiple departments (State, Treasury, USAID, etc.) are working together to bring forward a more robust and coherent response to the crisis.
Securing tangible United Nations action for Sudan is now one of the U.S. government’s top three priorities at the global body.
The forum for ceasefire talks in Jeddah has been restructured to be inclusive of key African and Arab regional leaders and to focus on aligning external political will. Multiple attempts by various countries to broker a ceasefire in different venues over the past 12 months have been played against each other by Sudan’s generals, so this is an especially welcome development.
Trying to determine why there has been such a stunning lack of international attention to the emergency in Sudan —now the largest in the world— came up throughout the hearing. Special Envoy Perriello echoed several of the reasons we have previously outlined and described them as “a tragedy.”
The Biden Administration is prepared to expand sanctions on individuals and entities who are fueling the war.
There are currently no “ready to go” civilian protection measures for Sudan, such as an United Nations or African Union peacekeeping force. Special Envoy Perriello’s office is raising the possibility of more robust measures with international partners.
The U.S. government is employing “a couple of efforts to use methodologies” to determine a more credible death toll from the war and mass killing. Special Envoy Perriello mentions that he has seen estimates ranging from 10,000 up to as high as 150,000.
We’re a nonprofit organization with over a decade of experience working alongside Sudanese heroes. Together we are making the story of Sudan known, empowering survivors, and working to build a renewed Sudan from the ground up. And we need your help.
Our Sudanese partners on the ground are overwhelmed with needs as the war spreads and hunger deepens. Your generosity will help them serve the most vulnerable in this time of tremendous need.
$2,200: Fund an entire classroom at Endure Primary School for one semester.
$1,000: Pays monthly salaries of 5 midwives.
$500 - Delivers food and clothing to Darfuri genocide survivors who have fled into South Sudan.
$250 - Supports a teacher and their classroom for one month.
$150 - Pays a nurse assistant’s salary for an entire month.
$100 - Give pencils, notebooks and other supplies to 16 students in Yida Refugee Camp.
$50 - Gives a day’s worth of medicine to three clinics.
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The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently held a hearing on the conflict and humanitarian emergency in Sudan. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-senate-foreign-relations-committee-hearing-on-sudan-may-2024
“As we speak, Sudan faces two distinct but accelerating trajectories – one towards famine and possibly a failed state, and the second towards peace and a democratic future.” https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-senate-foreign-relations-committee-hearing-on-sudan-may-2024
The U.S. government is employing “a couple of efforts to use methodologies” to determine a more credible death toll from the war and mass killing. Special Envoy Perriello says he has seen estimates ranging from 10,000 up to as high as 150,000 people. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/us-senate-foreign-relations-committee-hearing-on-sudan-may-2024
