US Senator warns Sudan coup leader of ‘targeted sanctions’

In a telephone call on Monday, US Senator Chris Coons cautioned Sudan’s coup leader and head of the Sovereignty Council, Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, that there is “strong bipartisan support” in the US Congress for “legislation that would impose targeted sanctions on those undermining the democratic transition in Sudan”.

A statement following the telecon says that Chris Coons (Dem), Senator for Delaware, Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reiterated his grave concern and that of his colleagues in Congress regarding the political crisis in Sudan and the ongoing crackdown by security forces on protesters that has left nearly 80 people dead since the military coup d’état of October 25 2021.

He reminded El Burhan of the strong bipartisan support for advancing legislation that would impose targeted sanctions on those undermining the democratic transition in Sudan and violating human rights if the military does not change course, a message that was underscored by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last week on Sudan’s imperilled transition.

Senator Coons emphasised the importance of ending lethal violence against protestors and enforcing accountability for violations that have taken place, supporting the United Nations-led political consultations toward establishing a civilian democratic government, and facilitating the military’s exit from Sudanese politics, the statement reads.

“Senator Coons made clear that the national electoral process cannot be rushed and that major reforms are necessary to ensure elections are free, fair, inclusive, and credible,” the statement concludes.

As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, a number of members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee have demanded the imposition of sanctions on the authority in Sudan, during the committee session held on February 1 entitled Sudan’s Threatened Transition and American Policy Following the October 25 Coup. Molly Phee, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, said during the committee session that the administration does not currently have sufficient powers, however the Democrats in the committee confirmed the existence of powers approved by Congress and offered to approve new powers.