U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Cory Booker, Chris Coons, Jeff Merkley, and Chris Van Hollen issued a statement on April 15 marking the third anniversary of the Sudanese Civil War and calling for urgent action to end violence and suffering in Sudan.
The senators said that millions of civilians have endured severe violations of human rights since the conflict began in April 2023. They urged all parties involved in the fighting to take immediate steps to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access throughout Sudan.
"Since April 15, 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been embroiled in a war that has no military solution. For three years, millions of civilians including women, children, journalists and humanitarian aid workers have faced egregious violations of basic human rights and dignity," they said. The senators described the crisis as "the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with more than 13 million people displaced and more than 29 million people facing acute hunger." They highlighted recent events such as "the RSF’s 18-month siege of El-Fasher in Darfur," which ended on October 26 with what they called "a deadly campaign of ethnically targeted killing." The statement also cited systematic sexual violence against women and girls as well as attacks by SAF on civilian infrastructure.
The senators emphasized that both SAF and RSF must stop attacks on civilian sites: "We call on all parties to the conflict to end attacks on civilian sites and to enable full and meaningful humanitarian access throughout Sudan." They also urged international actors known as the Quad—comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Egypt—to advance a plan for accountability: "We call on the Quad to urgently bring forward a plan that holds perpetrators of gross human rights violations accountable...and lay[s] the groundwork for a peaceful transition of power."
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is responsible for developing U.S. foreign policy through examining treaties and legislation according to its official website. The committee designates its Chairman to lead majority members while its Ranking Member leads minority members as detailed online. Historically it has shaped major U.S. policies like supporting measures such as the Truman Doctrine in 1947 or rejecting treaties like Versailles after World War I according to historical records. Established in 1816 as one of Senate's original standing committees according to its history page, it continues today as a legislative body focused on international relations.
Looking ahead, observers will be watching how international efforts led by groups like the Quad respond amid calls from lawmakers for increased accountability measures aimed at ending violence in Sudan.
