,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ahh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #b1 #bjai,mr4 ,cruz 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,risch1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,cramer1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,isakson1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,ms4 ,harris1 ,mr4 ,young1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,roberts1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,hawley1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,graham1 ,mr4 ,peters1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,braun1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,mr4 ,crapo1 and ,mr4 ,markey7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,june #c1 #bjai,reported by ,mr4 ,risch1 with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble ,july #i1 #bjai;,considered1 amended1 and agreed to with an amended preamble ,,resolution ,encouraging a swift transfer of power by the military to a civilian-led political authority in the ,republic of the ,sudan1 and for other purposes4 ,whereas the nation of ,sudan has endured corrupt and brutal dictatorships for most of its post-independence period since #aief2 ,whereas ,president ,omar al-,bashir came to power through a military coup in #aihi1 and for the next #c decades his government was responsible for horrendous crimes in ,sudan1 especially in ,darfur1 ,south ,kordofan1 ,blue ,nile1 and in what is now the ,republic of ,south ,sudan2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government designated ,sudan as a ,state ,sponsor of ,terrorism on ,august #ab1 #aiic1 for its support to international terrorist organizations and extremists1 including elements of what would later be known as al ,qaeda2 ,whereas more than #b decades of civil war between ,president al-,bashir's government and insurgents in southern ,sudan resulted in more than #b1jjj1jjj deaths and led to the eventual independence of ,south ,sudan in #bjaa2 ,whereas in #bjjc1 ,president al-,bashir's government launched a ruthless crackdown against insurgents and civilians in ,darfur1 which killed at least #cjj1jjj ,sudanese and displaced #b1ejj1jjj more people1 prompting ,congress and the ,administration of ,president ,george ,w4 ,bush1 in #bjjd1 to describe the ,government of ,sudan's actions in ,darfur as genocide2 ,whereas in #bjaa1 when conflict resumed in ,south ,kordofan and ,blue ,nile states1 ,president al-,bashir's government conducted indiscriminate bombings1 raided villages1 raped and killed civilians1 and waged a campaign of forced starvation in the ,nuba ,mountains region of ,south ,kordofan that displaced as many as #b1jjj1jjj people2 ,whereas1 while the fighting between government forces and insurgents in ,darfur has subsided since #bjaf1 violent attacks against civilians continue and humanitarian access remains restricted in some opposition stronghold areas of ,darfur1 ,south ,kordofan1 and ,blue ,nile2 ,whereas ,president al-,bashir remains the subject of #b outstanding arrest warrants from the ,international ,criminal ,court based on charges that include #e counts of crimes against humanity1 #b counts of war crimes1 and #c counts of genocide2 ,whereas ,sudan's economic crisis risks bringing the national economy to total collapse1 further increasing the possibility of state failure and broader regional destabilization that could threaten a wide array of ,united ,states' interests in ,east and ,north ,africa and the ,red ,sea regions2 ,whereas the people of ,sudan have engaged since ,december #bjah in a wave of peaceful protests throughout the country1 demanding an end to ,president al-,bashir's brutal regime and pressing for a citizen-centered democratic transition2 ,whereas women have played a prominent role in the protest movement and have helped to bring about the ouster of former ,president al-,bashir2 ,whereas ,president al-,bashir's government unlawfully detained and tortured hundreds of ,sudanese during the protests1 including political leaders1 journalists1 doctors1 unionists1 and youth and women leaders1 in gross violation of international civil and human rights1 some of whom remain in detention2 ,whereas on ,february #bb1 #bjai1 ,president al-,bashir declared a year-long nationwide state of emergency and curfew1 dissolved his government1 replaced state governors with senior security officers1 and expanded the powers of ,sudan's security forces2 ,whereas when protesters in early ,april #bjai challenged ,president al-,bashir's decrees and gathered in the tens of thousands in front of ,sudan's military headquarters in ,khartoum to call for an end to the al-,bashir regime1 some elements of the security forces tried to disperse the crowds with violence1 leading to clashes between internal security forces and the military as some soldiers sought to protect the protesters2 ,whereas on ,april #aa1 #bjai1 after #e days of mass protests in front of their headquarters1 ,sudan's military removed ,president al-,bashir from office1 and the country's ,first ,vice ,president and ,minister of ,defense1 ,lt4 ,general ,awad ,ibn ,auf-- 7#a7 announced that he would lead a ,transitional ,military ,council that would rule the country for a #b-year period2 7#b7 suspended the ,constitution2 7#c7 the dissolved the ,national ,assembly2 and 7#d7 imposed a #c-month ,state of ,emergency and nightly curfew2 ,whereas ,lt4 ,general ,abdel-,fattah al-,burhan1 former general inspector of the ,sudanese ,armed ,forces1 who replaced ,lt4 ,general ,ibn ,auf on ,april #ab1 #bjai1 as the chairman of the ,transitional ,military ,council1 said1 on ,april #ba1 #bjai1 that the council was ready to hand over power tomorrow to a civilian government agreed by political forces2 ,whereas the ,rapid ,support ,forces1 paramilitary forces led by ,lt4 ,general ,mohammed ,hamdan ,dagolo 7also known as ,hemmeti71 a former ,janjaweed leader who currently serves as the deputy chairman of the ,transitional ,military ,council-- 7#a7 have been implicated by the ,united ,nations ,panel of ,experts in widespread violations of international humanitarian law that human rights groups suggest may amount to war crimes2 and 7#b7 have been accused of killing protesters during the recent uprising2 ,whereas1 the ,african ,union ,peace and ,security ,council convened on ,april #cj1 #bjai1 and reiterated its conviction that a military-led transition in ,sudan will be totally unacceptable and contrary to the will and legitimate aspirations of the ,sudanese people1 expressed deep regret that the military had not stepped aside1 and1 noting negotiations were underway1 demanded that the military hand over power to a civilian-led transitional authority within #fj days2 ,whereas on ,june #c1 #bjai1 the ,rapid ,support ,forces led a brutal attack on peaceful protesters1 with the aim of eradicating a large sit-in site in front of ,sudan's military headquarters in ,khartoum1 which resulted in more than #ajj deaths1 hundreds of injuries1 several cases of rape1 indiscriminate beatings and shooting of unarmed protesters1 and other human rights abuses2 ,whereas1 the ,khartoum massacre on ,june #c1 #bjai1 was followed by a nationwide crackdown led by the ,rapid ,support ,forces against peaceful protesters and civilians that included-- 7#a7 violent attacks on citizens in ,khartoum and other major cities2 7#b7 the brutal detention of protesters and opposition leaders like ,yasir ,arman1 with many disappearances of those detained2 7#c7 the targeting of hospitals and medical workers caring for the injured2 and 7#d7 the overt attempts by ,sudanese authorities to cover-up the scale of their atrocities by dumping bodies in the ,nile river and shutting off access to the ,internet2 and ,whereas1 the international community has widely condemned the actions of the ,rapid ,support ,forces1 with the ,african ,union's ,peace and ,security ,council voting on ,june #f1 #bjai1 to suspend ,sudan from all ,african ,union activities until a civilian government is formed1 and ,united ,nations' experts appointed by the ,united ,nations ,human ,rights ,council1 on ,june #ab1 #bjai1 calling for an independent investigation into the violence against protesters in ,sudan3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 supports the ,african ,union ,peace and ,security ,council's initial #b-week deadline urging a swift transfer of power by the military to a civilian-led political authority in ,sudan that-- 7,a7 has a civilian character and composition reflecting the will of the ,declaration of ,freedom and ,change ,forces leading negotiations on behalf of citizens2 and 7,b7 immediately begins a transparent process leading to credible elections and security sector reforms2 7#b7 calls on the ruling authorities in ,sudan-- 7,a7 to respect the right to freedom of association and expression2 7,b7 to protect the rights of opposition political parties1 journalists1 human rights defenders1 religious minorities1 nongovernmental organizations1 and civic movements to operate without interference2 7,c7 to lift the bureaucratic restrictions on1 and facilitate access for1 humanitarian relief operations2 7,d7 to introduce strong measures to create transparency and address the structural corruption and kleptocracy of the state2 7,e7 to pursue accountability for serious crimes and human rights abuses by former ,president al-,bashir's regime and permit international human rights monitors to deploy in ,sudan to examine the allegations of atrocities committed against protesters and civilians during #bjai2 7,f7 to release remaining political prisoners and refrain from arbitrary arrest1 detention1 and torture2 and 7,g7 to immediately restore ,internet access and avoid further denial of access to suppress the fundamental human right of freedom of expression and association by ,sudanese citizens2 7#c7 urges the ,united ,states ,government to lead in efforts that advance a peaceful transfer of power and a civilian-led transition period focused on creating the conditions under which timely democratic elections can be held that will meet international standards and be overseen by credible domestic and international electoral observers1 and for the peaceful resolution of ,sudan's conflicts2 7#d7 encourages the ,african ,union and its member states to continue supporting the ,sudanese people's aspirations for democracy1 justice1 and peace2 7#e7 expresses concern that the participation in the transitional government of individuals who have been implicated in possible war crimes would undermine efforts to restore peace and democracy and pursue justice and accountability in ,sudan2 7#f7 emphasizes that until a transition to a credible civilian-led government that reflects the aspirations of the ,sudanese people is established1 the process to consider removing ,sudan from the ,state ,sponsor of ,terrorism ,list1 lifting any other remaining sanctions on ,sudan1 or normalizing relations with the ,government of ,sudan will continue to be suspended2 and 7#g7 stands in solidarity with the people of ,sudan and their aspirations for a democratic1 participatory government4