House Foreign Affairs hearing presses for urgent U.S. action as Sudan conflict deepens

WASHINGTON — A House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on the conflict in Sudan concluded with bipartisan calls for swifter U.S. action after witnesses described mass atrocities, famine conditions and sustained external support for combatants.

Chairman Smith opened the session by faulting both Sudan’s generals and regional enablers and urged stronger measures against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. "The RSF ... should be designated as a foreign terrorist organization, an FTO," he said during opening remarks.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Vincent Sparrow, speaking for the State Department, said the administration has used diplomatic and economic tools to press parties and their backers, and described a three‑pillar U.S. approach: pressing belligerents on a humanitarian truce, engaging external influencers through the Quad, and preparing for a longer-term civilian-led transition. "We have provided more than $405,000,000 in assistance for people in need in Sudan," Sparrow told lawmakers.

Human Rights Watch’s Nicole Wittershein and aid leaders portrayed a worsening humanitarian picture. Wittershein said verified investigations show the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces have committed abuses that "amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity," and urged congressional backing for accountability mechanisms and robust aid.

Members zeroed in on the role of external backers, particularly the United Arab Emirates. Lawmakers cited multiple media reports and U.N. panel findings alleging UAE arms and financial flows to the RSF and pressed Sparrow on why those ties could not be halted more rapidly. Sparrow said the U.S. is coordinating with Quad partners and using sanctions but declined to describe operational diplomatic steps in detail.

Witnesses and members also highlighted the damage to U.S. capacity for atrocity prevention after aid cuts and reorganization. Witnesses urged Congress to restore funding to community-based emergency response rooms that they said reached hundreds of thousands and to back international justice efforts, including the International Criminal Court’s investigations into Sudan.

The committee deferred additional questions in writing and adjourned to allow members to cast votes; members said they will continue oversight of the administration’s Sudan policy and consider legislative steps to press regional actors and expand humanitarian support.