Gregory W. Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has called on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into reports that the Sudanese military used chemical weapons in its war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Gregory W. Meeks is a well-respected, bipartisan lawmaker in Congress who is deeply committed to the cause of democracy and human rights.
Meeks urged the Trump administration to give early priority to addressing the horrific conflict in Sudan, including holding those responsible for atrocities and abuses committed by the warring parties accountable.
He condemned the continued commission of war crimes and atrocities by both sides of the war, “resulting in an appalling rise in the death toll and suffering of the Sudanese people over the past 22 months.”
In a statement published yesterday on the congressional website, Meeks welcomed the sanctions announced last week by outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration against army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for “using starvation as a weapon, systematically obstructing the flow of humanitarian aid to those in need, torture of detainees, attacks on civilians through bombings and airstrikes, and the destruction of infrastructure.”
“Sudanese army soldiers and allied militias, who recently regained control of the area (Madani), appear to have carried out brutal revenge attacks targeting specific ethnic groups after accusing them of collaborating with the RSF. These attacks have included summary executions and egregious human rights violations against civilians.”
Gregory Meeks pledged to work with his colleagues in the 119th Congress to ensure Sudan remains a priority in U.S. foreign policy, including reintroducing his omnibus legislation, the US Sudan Peace Engagement Act, to help achieve accountability for the atrocities.
He concluded his statement by saying: “We must continue to stand with the Sudanese people, who have clearly expressed their need for peace and their desire for genuine democratic governance and ensure continued strategic and sustained U.S. engagement to end this brutal conflict.”
