Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement about the removal of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir from power by the Sudanese military:
"We stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people, who for months have taken to the streets to reclaim their country from a ruthless military regime, led by a war criminal that has ruled through fear, violence, and the repression of democratic voices for nearly three decades.
"While Bashir’s departure is long overdue, a military takeover of what was already a military government does not meet legitimate demands for a representative government that ensures the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Sudan. A more just and inclusive leadership in Sudan could be the foundation of improved U.S.-Sudan relations. Sudan’s military leadership must immediately engage in a process that responds to demands for a transition to civilian government. We also call on security forces to exercise restraint, and to remember that the world is watching.
"Today’s removal of Omar al-Bashir should send a strong signal to other longstanding autocratic leaders on the continent who seek to maintain their grip on power through non-democratic means that their time is up.”