For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 9, 2004
President's Statement on Violence in Darfur, Sudan
Statement by the President
The United States is appalled by the violence in Darfur, Sudan. Our
government has led the international effort to end the suffering there
by speaking clearly about the crisis and sending assistance to the
suffering. We have provided more than $211 million in aid and
humanitarian relief, and we will provide an additional $250 million. To
end the conflict, we helped broker a cease-fire and worked closely with
the African Union to deploy monitors and soldiers to investigate
violations.
I sent Secretary of State Powell to Darfur and Khartoum to demand
that the Sudanese Government act to end the violence. We sponsored a
strong Security Council Resolution, which passed on July 30. This
resolution called on the Government to disarm the Jinjaweed militias
which have terrorized the people of Darfur, and bring their leaders to
justice. Secretary Powell later sent a team of investigators into the
refugee camps to interview the victims of atrocities. As a result of
these investigations and other information, we have concluded that
genocide has taken place in Darfur. We urge the international community
to work with us to prevent and suppress acts of genocide. We call on
the United Nations to undertake a full investigation of the genocide
and other crimes in Darfur.
The Government of Sudan has not complied with UN Security Council
resolutions, and has not respected the cease-fire which it signed. The
rebels are also guilty of cease-fire violations and failing to carry
out past commitments. It is clear that only outside action can stop the
killing. My government is seeking a new Security Council Resolution to
authorize an expanded African Union security force to prevent further
bloodshed. We will also seek to ban flights by Sudanese military
aircraft in Darfur.
The world cannot ignore the suffering of more than one million
people. The U.S. will continue to help relieve suffering, as we demand
that the Jinjaweed disarm, and that the Government, Jinjaweed, and
Darfur rebels end the violence.
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