Jayapal, Jacobs Resolution Recognizing Three Years of War in Sudan Passes Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) today passed a resolution through the House Foreign Affairs Committee, with original cosponsor Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), condemning the attacks on civilians in Sudan and calling for a negotiated end to the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. The measure passed 44-2 with bipartisan support.
“The ongoing civil war in Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian crises the world has ever seen. It is critically important that today the House Foreign Affairs Committee recognized that fact in a bipartisan way and moved this resolution forward,” said Jayapal. “50 million people are caught in the crossfire as two military forces have waged a war with absolutely shocking atrocities against civilians. And that suffering has only been exacerbated by rampant malnutrition and famine as armed actors impede humanitarian aid. The full House must take up this resolution urgently to call for our government to use its leverage to bring an end to this war that has gone on for far too long.”
“For three years, the international community has essentially ignored the devastating war in Sudan that has evolved into the biggest humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs. “The health system has largely collapsed, millions of people are hungry, and some have even resorted to eating leaves or animal feed because they can’t find enough food. But today we took an important step forward. I’m so grateful that the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed our resolution to condemn the attacks on civilians in Sudan and call for an end to external support to the RSF and SAF. The United States has leverage with the external actors who are fueling this horrific war, and it’s long past time that we use it.”
“I thank Rep. Jayapal for this urgent resolution,” said Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks. “We must do more to end this brutal conflict, which is only being prolonged by the steady flow of arms from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other external actors to the warring parties. The Trump Administration must take decisive steps to curb the flow of arms to the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces, press them to ensure unfettered humanitarian access to populations in need of assistance, and work to negotiate an end to this conflict to prevent any further atrocities against Sudanese populations.”
More than 400,000 people have been killed and over 14 million displaced since the start of the war. It has been determined by the State Department that both the SAF and RSF have committed war crimes, and that the RSF has committed crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide.
It is estimated that 20 million Sudanese people are facing acute levels of food insecurity, and nearly 34 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance.
Jayapal and Jacobs introduced the resolution on the third anniversary of the war’s start. The resolution formally denounces this crisis and calls for safety and security for the Sudanese people, an end to external, material support to the SAF and RSF from outside actors, recognizes the continued resilience of Sudanese civil society and calls on the Trump administration to take clear steps to help negotiate an end to the war.
The full text of the resolution can be read here.