White House Leadership Needed at a Key Moment for U.S. Sudan Policy

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sudan Now campaign today
released the following statement regarding the Obama administration's policy
toward the government of Sudan:

President Barack Obama will soon announce the long-awaited results of his
administration's Sudan policy review. The President's National Security Team
has agreed on a white paper and forwarded it to him for his approval. While
the agreed-upon policy appears to be well-calibrated approach of incentives
and pressures, it doesn't address the deeply flawed diplomatic strategy that
his administration is already pursuing in response to the multiple crises in
Sudan, particularly in Darfur and the South. The current diplomatic strategy
is undermining the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) by floating ideas and
alternative approaches to its strict implementation, making the resumption of
North-South war more likely. Instead, the U.S. should be fashioning a
coalition of countries penalizing any party that obstructs the CPA or the
Darfur peace process.

Members of the Sudan Now campaign include Humanity United, the Enough Project
at the Center for American Progress, Stop Genocide Now, Investors Against
Genocide, and Genocide Intervention Network.

John Prendergast, the Enough Project's Co-founder, said, "The stakes in Sudan
continue to climb. Attacks against civilians in southern Sudan have escalated
dramatically, and the Sudanese government has launched an offensive in Darfur.
Implementation of a number of key elements of the CPA have ground to a halt,
putting at increasing risk the self-determination referendum for southern
Sudan scheduled for 2011. This increases the prospect that Africa's largest
country will split violently in two."

Mr. Prendergast continued, "President Obama must be unequivocal in publicly
supporting the strict implementation of the CPA. Widespread allegations of
support by the ruling National Congress Party for ethnic-based southern
militias demand an immediate investigation, and improving the security
situation in the South should be prioritized. The president should state
clearly his support for the referendum as the cornerstone of the CPA, and
direct Special Envoy Gration, Secretary Clinton, and Ambassador Rice to forge
an international coalition to support this process."

Randy Newcomb, President and CEO of Humanity United said, "In order for his
administration's Sudan policy to have a chance for success, President Obama
has to get the diplomatic strategy right for Darfur, the South, and at the
national level. If these fundamental building blocks are not addressed, Sudan
will continue to inch towards a return to large-scale war."

Sudan Now is a campaign of anti-genocide advocacy organizations committed to
bringing meaningful and lasting peace to Sudan and encouraging strong American
leadership and action to achieve this goal. For more information, visit
SudanActionNow.com.

SOURCE Center for American Progress

Eileen White Read of ,the Center for American Progress, +1-202-741-6376,
eread@enoughproject.org