It has been three weeks since violence erupted in Sudan. Hundreds of people have been killed. Hundreds of thousands more have been forced to flee, and many remain trapped by fighting without access to food, water, or electricity.
The United States bears a special responsibility for the events transpiring in Sudan. It was a major player in establishing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that marked the end of 20 years of civil conflict and established South Sudan. Despite this, the response from Congress and the administration has been muted. The international community has focused on securing a ceasefire (which has so far failed to hold) and evacuating its citizens.
Into that vacuum, young Sudanese peacebuilders are stepping up. They are pushing back on misinformation, providing aid, and playing a leading role in the nonviolent moment for peace and democracy in their country. But they can’t do it alone.
“Sudanese youth are displaying acts of heroism every single day,” Sudanese advocate Mayada Adil told the U.N. Economic and Social Council’s annual Youth Forum last week. “The international community must do everything they can to support us now.”
It will take sustained pressure to get lawmakers to respond to this call, and that’s the gap that groups like FCNL can fill. This week we joined partners in urging Congress to act swiftly in response to the growing crisis in Sudan. We coordinated a briefing for congressional staff, which more than 50 people attended.
Our coalition of advocacy and civil-society organizations collectively pushed for the appointment of a special envoy to Sudan. The chair and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee later echoed this request. We called on Congress to urgently schedule hearings on the unfolding situation, and the Senate responded.
Direct, sustained, high-level leadership from the United States and United Nations is needed to stop the violence in Sudan from engulfing the nation. We must do our part by keeping the pressure on lawmakers to take bold steps to respond to this crisis and to invest in critical peacebuilding programs that work to prevent violence, transform conflicts, and heal fractured communities after conflicts end.
Elsewhere
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Day
More than 4 in 5 Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, often at the hands of a non-Native perpetrator. Today, across the nation, people are gathered to observe Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Day. It is a time uplift the voices of survivors, remember those we have lost, and demand action from our government.
20 Years After “Mission Accomplished,” the Iraq War Lives On
Twenty years ago this week, President George W. Bush stood under a banner reading “Mission Accomplished” and told the world that the United States was ending major combat operations in Iraq. The war would rage on for eight more years, and the Iraq war authorization remains on the books. Read more from FCNL’s Kevin Snow on why this is a prime moment for Congress to act.
Default Could Come as Soon as June 1
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the United States could default on its debt as soon June 1, absent congressional action to raise the debt ceiling. We continue to call on Congress to raise the debt ceiling without conditions. Read our primer on the manufactured debt ceiling crisis.
One Year Since the Killing of Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
This Wednesday marked World Press Freedom Day—and May 11, next Thursday, will mark one year since the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli soldiers. With the tragic anniversary quickly approaching, FCNL supports calls on Capitol Hill to fully investigate the incident and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Your Voice is Needed in FCNL’s Strategic Planning
Help FCNL envision our next five years (2024-2028)! Fill out the strategic planning survey by May 12.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation is a national, nonpartisan Quaker organization that lobbies Congress and the administration to advance peace, justice, and environmental stewardship. This Week in the World. The FCNL weekly newsletter of advocacy actions and updates and opportunities to take action on the issues you care about.