THE CRISIS IN DARFUR | LEGISLATIVE TIMELINE

Legislative Timeline

Sudan has become a much talked about issue within the Jewish community and in Washington. But, unfortunately, the difference being made in the lives of Darfurians is questionable. Words ring hollow without actions taken to prevent the continued genocide.

The rapidly worsening situation in Sudan is further evidence of the need for greater effort on the part of all people of goodwill from around the world to address the crisis. Conrete steps to end the violence must be taken, such as targeted sanctions and the presence of more troops on the ground with a stronger mandate. Only with an immediate end to the violence and increased humanitarian assistance can the horrors being experienced by the people of Darfur be alleviated.

December 2006
On December 14, 2006 International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced that his investigation into crimes in Darfur was nearly complete, and that he was prepared to submit evidence to ICC judges no later than February 2007.
September 2006
In September 2006, the United States Congress passed the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which President Bush subsequently signed into law on October 13. The bill denies U.S. visas to, and blocks assets of, Sudanese government officials and Janjaweed militia commanders blamed for the atrocities, as well as restricting economic aid and trade access in attempts to limit oil revenues to the Sudanese government. In addition, the bill authorizes additional help to the 7,000 African Union peacekeepers in Darfur in the form of logistical support, transport, and training. A key section was removed before passage which would have protected the right of states to prevent investments that fund the genocidal Sudanese government.

On September 19, 2006 President Bush announced his appointment of Andrew S. Natsios, former Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development, as a Presidential Special Envoy to Sudan. According to the State Department, "his mandate will include facilitating and implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Darfur Peace Agreement, reviewing the state of US-Sudan relations, and making recommendations for advancing our policy."
August 2006
On August 31, 2006 the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1706, authorizing the deployment of 200,000 United Nations Peacekeeping troops to enter the Darfur region of Sudan to replace the current African Union troops. The Resolution "invites the consent" of the Sudanese government in Khartoum to accept the UN troops, an action that the UN had never taken before. The meaning of the wording remains unclear.
May 2006
On May 5, 2006, due in large part to international efforts, the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed between the Sudanese government and the largest Darfurian rebel group; while an important step, violence has escalated and in-fighting between the many rebel groups has complicated the situation. In response to the signing of this treaty, the African Union agreed to transfer authority of its peacekeeping force in Darfur to the United Nation by the end of September 2006, or when the UN mission is ready.
February 2006
On February 17, 2006 President Bush called for the levels of international troops in Darfur to be doubled in order to address the ongoing crisis in Sudan. President Bush also called for an increased role for NATO peacekeepers in Darfur and sent a supplemental funding proposal to Congress which included a request for $123 million to strengthen the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur. The House of Representatives and the Senate both passed amendments to provide an additional $50 million to the President's request, bringing the total for Darfur peacekeeping within the Emergency Supplemental Fiscal Year 2006 funding bill, H.R. 3949, to $173 million. On June 15, 2006 President Bush signed the bill into law.
Spring 2005
The United Nations Security Council passed two resolutions in the spring of 2005: one calling for targeted sanctions against the ruling party and one referring the perpetrators of the genocide to the International Criminal Court. These are two significant steps in holding perpetrators accountable and providing incentives for the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed to stop their killing.
September 2004
In a statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 9, 2004, then Secretary of State Colin Powell denounced the atrocities taking place in Sudan and concurred that genocide is occurring Secretary Powell stated the need for the continuation of peace talks, free flow of humanitarian aid and support for observers and troops from the African Union. His statements also marked the first time that one state party to the Genocide Convention used its authority to address genocide being committed by another state party to the convention.
July 2004
On July 23, 2004 the US Congress unanimously passed a resolution declaring the atrocities being committed in Darfur, Sudan, "genocide" as defined under the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. On July 26, 2004 the US Holocaust Memorial Museum's Committee on Conscience declared a "Genocide Emergency," saying that genocide is imminent or actively occurring in Darfur.