Rhino: Agencies – The top Democrat on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee plans to introduce a bill on Tuesday that would impose sanctions on the leaders of the warring parties in Sudan and ban U.S. arms sales to countries that help fuel the conflict, according to a summary of the bill seen by Reuters.

The measure will be introduced by senior committee member Gregory Meeks and Democratic Representative Sarah Jacobs. It would require the US president to submit a strategy to Congress to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and peace in Sudan.

It would also establish a five-year term for a special presidential envoy for Sudan to coordinate U.S. policy and diplomatic efforts.

The bill has the support of 12 other lawmakers, all Democrats.

“Protecting civilians is a very important issue, and it hasn’t gotten enough attention,” said a Democratic staffer on the committee.
In April 2023, war broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over a dispute over the democratization process, with tens of thousands reportedly killed.

Nearly 25 million people, half of Sudan’s population, are in need of aid amid warnings of famine, the United Nations said, adding that eight million have been displaced from their homes.