HRW: US Congress Should Pass Legislation on Sudan

Moatinoon
The US Congress is considering two pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening the United States response to the conflict in Sudan: the Preventing External Aggression and Conflict Escalation (PEACE) in Sudan Act of 2026 in the Senate and the US Engagement in Sudanese Peace Act in the House of Representatives.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), both bills contain important measures to reinforce the US response to the conflict but should include stronger accountability provisions for perpetrators of serious abuses.

HRW said it has documented widespread violations committed by both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), including attacks on civilians by both sides, widespread conflict-related sexual violence by the RSF, and evidence of ethnic cleansing by the RSF in West Darfur.

While acknowledging that the US administration has taken steps, including imposing sanctions on both parties to the conflict, the organization argued that Washington, together with the international community, has failed to exert sufficient pressure to halt atrocities and improve humanitarian conditions.

The proposed legislation would strengthen the role of the US Special Envoy for Sudan, a position that is currently vacant, and expand the governments authority to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for abuses.

The House bill also authorizes US support for a United Nations, African Union, or multinational protection force in Sudan, consistent with HRWs longstanding call for the UN Security Council to authorize a civilian protection mission.

Both bills would require the US government to identify foreign governments activities in Sudan and assess whether they violate the UN arms embargo. In addition, the House legislation would prohibit the sale of major US defense equipment to governments supplying weapons to either the RSF or the SAF, unless waived for national security reasons.

HRW welcomed these proposals, citing growing evidence that the RSF has received military support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The organization also referred to its recent findings that a UAE-based company recruited Colombian private military contractors who trained at UAE military bases before deploying to Sudan in support of the RSF.

The organization urged Congress to strengthen accountability provisions by directing the administration to support investigations into serious international crimes, including the collection and preservation of evidence for future judicial proceedings.

HRW said the legislation could enable the United States to play a more effective role in addressing Sudans ongoing human rights crisis.