US lawmaker introduces bill to tie Sudan minerals and farm pact to civilian protection

October 14, 2026 (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Representative Jim Baird introduced legislation on Wednesday to establish a bilateral partnership with Sudan in agriculture and mining, conditioning the deal on verified improvements in civilian protection, political stability, and resource management.

The measure, designated H.R. 10795 and known as the Sudan Investing in Minerals, Partnership, Agriculture, Commerce, and Trade (IMPACT) Act, would supply Sudan with American equipment, technology, and technical expertise in exchange for natural resources.

Under the bill, the economic initiative cannot take effect until the U.S. secretary of state certifies that Sudanese authorities have shown substantial progress in halting violence against non-combatants and managing national resources responsibly.

Baird, an Indiana Republican, said the conflict is devastating lives and crippling Sudan’s economic prospects, adding that economic cooperation can support long-term stability only if the safety of civilians remains the primary focus.

The lawmaker highlighted the strategic advantages for Washington, noting that access to Sudan’s mineral reserves would help secure raw materials for consumer technologies widely used in the United States, including automobiles and smartphones.

The proposed agreement outlines U.S. transfers of heavy machinery, satellite-guided precision farming systems, advanced irrigation infrastructure, and agricultural processing facilities.

In the extractive sector, the bill proposes providing modern mining and geological surveying tools, as well as assistance to upgrade workplace safety standards and clean up environmental contamination at mining sites.

The legislative initiative comes amid ongoing strain between Washington and Khartoum, following U.S. restrictions that included declining an entry visa for Sovereign Council head General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to address the U.N. General Assembly in New York last month.