Bill Introduced at US Congress to Support Sudanese Transitional Government

Protesters in Sudan. (Reuters file photo)
Protesters in Sudan. (Reuters file photo)
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Bill Introduced at US Congress to Support Sudanese Transitional Government

Protesters in Sudan. (Reuters file photo)
Protesters in Sudan. (Reuters file photo)

Foreign affairs committee leaders at the US Congress introduced legislation to support Sudan’s democratic transition.

Representatives Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Michael McCaul, the Committee’s Ranking Member; Karen Bass, Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations; and Chris Smith, the Subcommittee’s Ranking Member, introduced legislation to help foster a successful democratic transition in Sudan.

The Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Financial Transparency Act of 2020 (H.R.6094) would support a civilian-led democratic transition, promote accountability for human-rights abuses, and encourage fiscal transparency in Sudan.

“As the people of Sudan move forward on the uncertain path toward greater freedom and democracy, the United States should stand with them and support their aspirations. I am proud to introduce this measure that moves us towards a positive, constructive relationship between the United States and Sudan,” said Engel.

“This bipartisan bill is a declaration of Congress’s support for the civilian-led transition’s reform agenda, advancing what the people of Sudan accomplished during their revolution,” said McCaul added.

“After 30 years of brutal military dictatorship in Sudan, peaceful pro-democracy protesters prevailed in forming a transitional civilian-led government. This legislation supports the Sudanese people by prioritizing programs to foster economic growth and prevent and mitigate conflict.”

“It also authorizes targeted sanctions against individuals who have perpetrated human rights abuses and war crimes. I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this legislation that will help sustain key gains in democratic governance and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for the people of Sudan,” he added.

Bass reveled: “I recently led a bipartisan trip to Sudan where members witnessed some of the positive changes that have taken place in the country. This piece of legislation is a step in the right direction of our commitment to support the transition to a civilian-led democratic government and I urge my colleagues to support it.”



Kremlin Says It Wants Syria to Swiftly Restore Order after Opposition Attack

Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
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Kremlin Says It Wants Syria to Swiftly Restore Order after Opposition Attack

Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)

The Kremlin said on Friday it wanted the Syrian government to restore constitutional order in the Aleppo region as soon as possible after an insurgent offensive there that captured territory for the first time in years.
Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, intervened militarily on Assad's side against insurgents in 2015 in its biggest foray in the Middle East since the Soviet Union's collapse, and maintains an airbase and naval facility in Syria.
Opposition led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group launched an incursion on Wednesday into a dozen towns and villages in the northwestern province of Aleppo, which is controlled by Assad's forces.
It was the first such territorial advance since March 2020 when Russia and Türkiye, which supports the opposition, agreed to a ceasefire that led to the halting of military action in Syria's last major opposition stronghold in the northwest.
Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed an opposition-held area near the border with Türkiye on Thursday to try to push back the insurgents, Syrian army and opposition sources said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty and wanted the authorities to act fast to regain control.
"As for the situation around Aleppo, it is an attack on Syrian sovereignty and we are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," said Peskov.
Asked about unconfirmed Russian Telegram reports that Assad had flown into Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said he had "nothing to say" on the matter.