Sample Letter: Sudan Democracy Act

Dear (Senator Name),

My name is (Name), and I am from (state). I am extremely concerned about the situation in Sudan, as it has continued deteriorating since the military takeover. On October 25, 2021, military forces led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan staged a coup deposing Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok from power and detaining several other government officials and activists while the military proceeded to dissolve the transitional government. Despite facing an uphill battle against military forces determined to continue their illegitimate grip on power, the Sudanese people continue to rise up while peacefully resisting the military coup. However, when the people protest rejecting the coup, they are met with excessive force and imprisonment. As of February 14, 2022, at least 81 individuals have died as a result of the brutal use of force, and hundreds have been injured in Khartoum. Moreover, the military coup has led to an increase in violence across Darfur. As attention is centered in Khartoum, the military has mobilized its proxy militias to wage catastrophic destruction in Darfur with impunity. The resurgence of violence in West, Central, and North Darfur back in November and December resulted in at least 200 innocent civilians dead and about 25,000-30,000 newly displaced people. Our fear is that this situation—if left unaddressed—would descend into a crisis in which many more civilians will lose their lives trying to bring a civilian-led democracy to Sudan. 

The United States has condemned and suspended aid to Sudan, yet more must be done in order to ensure the restoration of a civilian-led government; pressure must be exercised on Sudanese military officials. During a hearing on February 1st, 2022, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee stated that there would be bipartisan legislation to impose targeted sanctions against the Sudanese military officials responsible for the coup so long as the military continues to threaten a democratic transition and violate human rights. Therefore, as your constituent, I am writing to you in solidarity with Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) to ask for support and accelerate the Sudan Democracy Act before it is too late. 

I appreciate the United States’ efforts in condemning the coup and suspending all aid to the Sudanese government. However, in order to restore a civilian-led government and promote peace and stability, I urge you in your role to demand that the United States must impose targeted sanctions, including asset freezing and travel bans on individuals responsible for the coup and for ordering excessive force against civilians in order to hold them accountable for their actions. The United States must prioritize accountability, promotion of human rights, and life with dignity for the people of Sudan. The United States must stand with the people of Sudan in this time of great loss and work to bring a civilian-led government that will bring about democracy and sustainable peace. As your constituent, I kindly urge you to be our voice and a voice for those voiceless in Sudan by supporting the United States’ efforts to end the crisis in Sudan and supporting the bipartisan Sudan Democracy Act that will impose targeted sanctions on the military junta before it is too late.

Sincerely,

(Name)