Less Than 100 Days Until Historic Vote in Sudan

Quote: Obama SudanThe January 9 referenda in Sudan are now less than 100 days away. In a show of much needed leadership and in recognition of the potential for renewed violence, the Obama administration has intensified its diplomatic engagement on Sudan to ensure that the two votes take place on time and in a credible fashion. Enough and partner organizations, including the Save Darfur Coalition, Investors Against Genocide, Genocide Intervention Network, i-ACT, and American Jewish World Service, recently praised the Obama administration for this high-level engagement and for President Obama's statements at the U.N. General Assembly meeting in September. Read the joint statement here. On Capitol Hill last week, Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and ######## Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Sudan Peace and Stability Act to direct U.S. government action to help prevent a return to war in Sudan. Enough and 16 other organizations expressed support for the bill, which requires the government to develop a strategy to promote democracy in Sudan, pursue full implementation of the CPA, and appoint a senior official to the Darfur peace process, among many other important provisions. Learn more about the bill on Enough Said. Grassroots activist groups are gearing up for an advocacy blitz between now and the referenda to call on the Obama administration to take further steps to ensure peace, so stay tuned for more details next week.