Exciting morning on the Hill, to be followed up by an impressive panel of Sudan experts this afternoon. The House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, chaired by Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ), has called a hearing on “Sudan: U.S. Policy and Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”
Pagan Amum, the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the party leading the Government of South Sudan, will open the hearing by briefing the subcommittee. Following his remarks, Ambassador Richard Williamson will be back to testify, drawing on his experience as the previous U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, alongside Enough’s Co-founder John Prendergast and Roger Winter, former U.S. Special Representative on Sudan to the Deputy Secretary of State.
With critical CPA deadlines quickly approaching – in particular, national elections next year and a self-determination referendum in the South in 2011 – expect to hear pointed testimony and a lively Q&A this afternoon.
UPDATE 5 P.M. EST The hearing was delayed and should start shortly. Expect live play-by-play via Twitter from Enough Said blogger Laura Heaton at laura4Enough.
Check out this recent post from Enough’s Executive Director John Norris on the significance of this busy week of human rights related Congressional hearings.