US Congress delegation to visit Darfur Sunday

Feb 18, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese Foreign Ministry announced today that a delegation of the US Congress is due to begin on Sunday a visit to Sudan’s troubled Darfur region to get acquainted with the humanitarian conditions there.

In Washington, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced today that she is leading a Congressional delegation to Africa, leaving tonight and returning on Feb. 24. Pelosi will lead 10 other Members to Sudan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Liberia, and South Africa.

“Our delegation will assess the situation on the ground in Darfur, and discuss security, economic, health, and hunger issues with regional leaders across the continent,” Pelosi said.

In a press statement, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Jamal Mohamed Ibrahim, said that the US Congress delegation, which is scheduled to arrive in Khartoum on Saturday evening, would meet with the governors and officials of Darfur states, besides officials at the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Khartoum.

Ibrahim who welcomed the US Congress delegation’s visit, said this trip “will enable them to get acquainted with the reality of the situation on the ground, especially in Darfur, instead of relying on negative reports which are being circulated by some circles with the aim to impose sanctions and more blockade and pressure on Sudan, and to influence the negotiation process in Abuja”.

Oakland’s Rep. Barbara Lee, who has visited Darfur before, is one of the House members going along with Pelosi. Lee calls the Darfur situation one of the greatest moral crises of our time.

The following members will be participating in the Congressional delegation:
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA),
James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Democratic Caucus Chairman,
Melvin Watt (D-NC), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus,
George Miller (D-CA),
Maxine Waters (D-CA) ,
Donald Payne (D-NJ),
Barbara Lee (D-CA),
Michael Capuano (D-MA),
Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI),
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL),
Joe Wilson (R-SC).

(ST)