PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS  THE DARFUR PEACE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (DPAA), ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER

On October 13, 2006, over a year after it was introduced, President Bush signed the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (DPAA) into law. The House approved of the bill early this April, and the Senate unanimously adopted the bill last month.  Bush also signed an executive order to maintain the majority of existing sanctions in Sudan, with the exception of lifting some sanctions in the South.  The executive order also called for measures to help facilitate humanitarian aid to the troubled region. 

According to a White House statement, the DPAA imposes sanctions on those complicit in, or responsible for, acts of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity in Darfur; supports measures for the protection of civilians and humanitarian operations; and supports peace efforts in the Darfur region.

Sanctions in this bill include the blocking of assets and the denial of visas of any individuals considered responsible for or complicit in acts of genocide. Additionally, restrictions against the Government of Sudan enforced by a previous Executive Order were extended, consistent with the prohibition of transactions with the Sudanese government. The purpose of these restrictions is to hold the Sudanese government accountable to the disarmament of rebels and to encourage officials to support a sustainable peace agreement. In his floor speech in support of the bill, Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA) stressed the importance of pressuring the Sudanese government. He stated that, “Congress has acted before to pressure the Sudanese government...but we must continue to press until the genocide is ended, the displaced can return to their home, and justice will have been served.”

This law also supports multilateral efforts to cease the atrocities occurring in Sudan. These include the backing of United Nations Security Council resolutions to prohibit the sale or supply of military equipment to the Government of Sudan. Provisions in the bill encourage the expansion of African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) under the direction of the President as well as NATO. The DPAA also requires the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to submit reports to Congress detailing the status of AMIS, U.S. military assistance, and current sanctions.

Efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur have been bipartisan. Republican Senator Brownback from Kansas applauded his colleagues’ collaboration in the passage of the DPAA, and highlighted the dire situation there, “The crisis in Darfur worsens each day. The number of displaced people continues to increase, and so has the spread of potentially deadly diseases like malaria, dysentery, and cholera.”

Approximately over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict and another 2 million displaced.

Citizens for Global Solutions applauds the successful passing of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006. In today’s interdependent world, it is necessary for our government to take action against gross violators of human rights.

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Updated October 23, 2006