Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:
“As Sudan enters its fourth year of conflict, we are confronted with a profound humanitarian crisis that demands urgent and sustained global attention. Civilians across the country continue to endure widespread hunger, acute malnutrition, and preventable disease—conditions that have already claimed thousands of lives. Over 11 million people have been displaced, while more than 19 million face acute food insecurity. Famine has been declared in parts of Darfur and Kordofan, underscoring the severity of this emergency. Women and children remain disproportionately impacted: millions of children have been driven out of school, and credible reports of pervasive sexual violence further highlight the urgent need to end this brutal war.
“We unequivocally condemn the grave human rights abuses committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including ethnically targeted killings, sexual violence, and retaliatory attacks against civilians. These atrocities, often carried out in the wake of territorial gains, represent a flagrant violation of international law. Since the RSF’s capture of El Fasher, the conflict has intensified and expanded into the Kordofan region and Blue Nile State, with the increased use of drones and other advanced weaponry placing even more civilians at risk. We call on all parties to this conflict—including the SAF, RSF, and affiliated militias—to immediately cease hostilities, agree to a durable ceasefire, and guarantee safe, unimpeded humanitarian access. We further call on external actors, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, to halt any support that fuels this violence.
“The Congressional Black Caucus remains deeply concerned about the growing regional implications of this conflict, particularly its spillover from Sudan’s borders into neighboring fragile states, which threatens broader regional stability and U.S. strategic interests. We urge the Administration to appoint a dedicated U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan with deep regional expertise and a clear mandate to advance peace. The current approach—marked by engagement with actors who are themselves contributing to the conflict—has proven ineffective and must be reevaluated. The United States must include regional and international partners in its ongoing efforts to end the Sudanese conflict and help rebuild the country. Additionally, the existing United Nations Security Council arms embargo on Darfur must be rigorously enforced and expanded to cover all of Sudan.
“In the face of immense adversity, Sudanese civil society has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and leadership. Emergency Response Rooms and grassroots mutual aid networks continue to provide lifesaving services and localized protection, often at great personal risk. These actors must be meaningfully included in all peace processes and receive sustained, direct international support to continue their critical work.
“This moment calls for moral clarity and decisive action. The international community must reckon with its failure to adequately respond to this crisis and take immediate steps to protect civilians, expand humanitarian assistance, and ensure accountability for those responsible for atrocities. The Congressional Black Caucus stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan and calls on the global community to help bring an end to this violence and to support a just, inclusive, and lasting peace.”
