Sudan Peace Act Passes

The nation of Sudan has experienced a particularly tragic recent history. It is estimated that during the current civil war, over 2 million Sudanese have died and over 4 million have been displaced. The government in Khartoum has used virtually every weapon at its disposal in order to subjugate the population. There are credible reports of the Khartoum government deliberately bombing civilians, withholding food from large regions, forcing people into slavery and engaging in large scale campaigns of rape. In short, the systematic human rights abuses and slaughter in Sudan is one of the most horrific situations on earth.

On October 21, President Bush signed into law the Sudan Peace Act. The Act requires the US President to determine whether the Khartoum government is working towards peace in good faith. If it is not, a series of economic and diplomatic sanctions will be imposed. In addition, the Act is designed to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to areas of Sudan in dire need.

After signing the Act, and issuing an encouraging statement, the White House issued a second statement stating the Act is unconstitutional. The point of issue is Congress's authority over foreign policy. The State Department later clarified that, despite the statement regarding the bill's constitutionality, it intends to comply with the provisions of the bill.