WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after reports of Sudanese protesters being shot by security forces and dozens reportedly dying:
“Today, thousands of Sudanese took to the streets to demonstrate against the military junta, led by General Burhan. On October 25, the military junta violated a political agreement and seized power from a civilian-led transitional government, upending Sudan's historic, yet fragile transition to democracy. Congress has spoken clearly to the military junta, the Sudanese people, and the U.S. administration that the only acceptable remedy to this tragic counter-revolutionary action is to restore the transitional government under the leadership of Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.
“Today’s violence and killing of dozens of peaceful protesters by Sudanese security forces is just one in a series of tragic incidents at the hands of Sudanese military leaders, and further proves they cannot, and should not, be trusted with the responsibility of protecting and governing the people of Sudan. From the genocide in Darfur to the coup on October 25, and now today’s killings, it is past time for the United States to hold Sudan’s military leaders accountable for their atrocities.”
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