America: Helping the People of Sudan

Please see Nov. 16, 2006 updated release.

Sudan is one of the highest foreign policy priorities for President Bush and his administration. Implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is moving forward. The Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), a fragile first step toward peace, faces many challenges but the U.S. remains focused on supporting the signatories on implementing its provisions. The CPA and DPA are being worked in parallel so that peace and democracy come to all Sudanese, the genocide in Darfur is ended, and refugees and displaced people can return home. Despite the obstacles, the United States remains focused on pushing for the full implementation of the CPA and DPA.

U.S. Diplomatic Action Through the UN – A Call to Re-hat

• The United States is working intensively with partners in the United Nations Security Council on a resolution authorizing the transition of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to a United Nations peacekeeping operation. The African Union has consistently called for transition of AMIS to the UN without delay.
• AMIS has played a vital role in curbing large-scale, organized violence in Darfur. Its current mandate ends on September 30, 2006, and the changing situation in Darfur requires a larger and more mobile force. Only a UN force can legitimately and credibly protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, and fully carry out the extensive monitoring and implementation duties spelled out in the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).
• The United States continues to call on the Sudanese Government of National Unity (GNU) to recognize the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and immediately agree to a transition of AMIS to the UN.

U.S. Support to the DPA

• The U.S. worked with the African Union (AU) to successfully broker an agreement between Sudan’s Government of National Unity (GNU) and the largest rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Minni Minawi, who signed the DPA on May 5, 2006.
• The DPA establishes critical security, wealth-sharing, and power-sharing arrangements that address the long-standing economic and political marginalization of Darfur. It establishes a formal dialogue and other mechanisms to address the interests of groups that sign the agreement at a later date.
• The U.S. and international partners are reaching out to those rebel factions that have not signed the DPA in an effort to quell the increasing violence and broaden support for the DPA. The DPA is in the interest of the people in Darfur.

U.S. Support to Peacekeeping

• The U.S. continues to work with key donors, NATO allies, and African partners to strengthen AMIS during the transition period to a UN force.
• The U.S. supports 34 AMIS camps, maintenance of its vehicles and communications equipment, pre-deployment training of Rwandan and Senegalese troops, and airlifts of Rwandan troops.
• The U.S. has contributed $240 million for AMIS since 2004; this figure represents in part additional funding provided by Congress in the FY 2006 supplemental.

U.S. Support to the CPA

• The U.S. helped broker the historic CPA, which was signed on January 9, 2005, ending 21 years of civil war.
• The CPA provides the framework for addressing the grievances of those living in the South and in other marginalized areas of Eastern Sudan and Darfur.
• Sudan has witnessed the founding of the GNU; the naming of Salva Kiir, a Southerner, as First Vice President; establishment of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS); the appointment of Southerners as GNU cabinet ministers; founding of many CPA-mandated commissions; and the return of more than half a million displaced people/refugees to the South. Revenue-sharing from Sudan’s petroleum wealth is helping to establish nascent government institutions in Southern Sudan.

U.S. Support to Humanitarian Assistance

• The U.S. is the largest single international donor to Sudan, providing 50% of the food the UN World Food Program’s (WFP) total 2006 requirements for Sudan and 72% of confirmed contributions in Sudan overall. WFP relies on continued international support and the U.S. encourages all donor partners to maintain or increase contributions.
• Since 2005, the U.S. has provided more than $300 million in non-food assistance to Darfur and $1.3 billion in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance country-wide.