President Barack Obama and General Scott Gration, the U.S. special envoy to Sudan, recently met with a small group of leading Darfur advocates and engaged members of Congress. President Obama’s most senior Sudan advisors were also present. Gen. Gration left Washington for an 11-day listening tour of Sudan, where he began his efforts to build a credible peace process for Darfur and reinvigorate implementation of the North-South peace deal.
Following the meeting, Enough’s Omer Ismail said, “I am confident that the Obama administration is serious about keeping their word on finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Sudan." Enough co-Founder John Prendergast noted that “President Obama understands exactly what needs to be done in Sudan, and his strategic vision is focused on the long-term goals of peace and democracy in the country. Enough will provide full support to Special Envoy Gration to succeed in his mission.”
Starting from the left of the President and continuing counter-clockwise around the table:
1. Scott Gration, President Obama’s Special Envoy to Sudan
One of President Obama’s top national advisors and a retired Air Force General, Gration was raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has traveled with the President to Africa. Gration has personal relationships with many of the African and Arab diplomats with whom he will be engaging as Envoy, as he leads U.S. policy on Sudan for the President.
2. John Prendergast, Co-Founder of the Enough Project
Prendergast worked as director of African affairs for the National Security Council during the Clinton administration and co-founded the Enough Project. Throughout his more than 20 years as a human rights activist, Prendergast has shone the spotlight on a number of humanitarian and political crises in Africa. He has been a leader in the Darfur movement in the U.S. and, through Enough, is galvanizing efforts to build a permanent anti-genocide constituency.
3. Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Relief, Stabilization, and Reconstruction, National Security Council
Also a former Clinton administration NSC official on Africa, Smith co-founded the Enough Project with John Prendergast. Smith is back at the National Security Council working on relief and reconstruction efforts ─ issues crucially important to the U.S. Sudan policy.
4. Michelle Gavin, Senior Director for Africa, National Security Council
Gavin was a key Africa advisor during President Obama’s campaign and left the Council on Foreign Relations to become the senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council. Previously, Gavin worked behind the scenes in key advisory positions in the U.S. Senate to elevate the issue of Darfur and other crises in Africa.
5. Gloria White-Hammond, Chairwoman, Save Darfur Coalition board
A longtime Darfur activist, White-Hammond is a medical doctor and a church pastor who has engaged in a number of collaborative humanitarian and advocacy initiatives with people in Darfur and southern Sudan
6. Donald M. Payne, U.S. Congressman (Democrat-New Jersey)
Payne is currently serving his tenth term in Congress. He is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and is a leading advocate on a bold Congressional approach to U.S. policy to address the crisis in Darfur.
7. Jerry Fowler, President, Save Darfur Coalition
Formerly the founding director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Committee on Conscience, Fowler now leads the Save Darfur Coalition and is a recognized authority on the problem of responding to genocide and related crimes against humanity.
8. Omer Ismail, Advisor, Enough Project
Born and raised in Darfur, Ismail is a longtime advocate for the people of Darfur. He has spent over 20 years working both independently and with international organizations on relief efforts and human rights issues related to Sudan.
9. Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service
In honor of her tireless work to end the Darfur genocide, Messinger received an award from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs in 2006. In her capacity, Messinger oversees the work of the American Jewish World Service, an international development organization providing support to 300 grassroots social change projects throughout the world.
Not pictured:
Jimmy Mulla – President and founding member of Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom (SSVF), Mulla is a long time Sudan Advocate and has led a wide range of advocacy and awareness raising efforts on the Darfur genocide and other Sudan issues. His organization was instrumental in the passage of the U.S. Sudan Peace Act and the appointment of a U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and has also worked on Sudan divestment efforts in the U.S.
Rep. Berman (D-CA) – Congressman Berman is Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has sponsored several pieces of Darfur-related legislation, including the China Resolution on Darfur in 2007. He received an A+ from Darfur Scores.
Sen. Durbin (D-Ill) – Senator Durbin is the Senate Majority Whip and serves on the Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee. Durbin has sponsored several key pieces of Darfur legislation including the Genocide Accountablity Act of 2007. Durbin received an A+ from Darfur Scores.
Sen. Feingold (D-WI) – Senator Feingold serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is Chair of the Subcommittee on African Affairs. Feingold’s active leadership in Senate efforts on Darfur have earned him an A+ from Darfur Scores.
Sen. Isaacson (R-GA) – Senator Isaacson serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has voted in favor of most Darfur-related legislation including a reolution that called for President Bush to appoint a Special Envoy to Sudan. He received a B from Darfur Scores.
Sen. Nelson (D-FL) – Senator Nelson serves on the Foreign Relations Committee and the Subcommittee on African Affiars. He has been a consistent supporter of Congressional efforts to address and end the crisis in Darfur. He cosponsored the Sudan Disclosure and Enforcement Act and received an A from Darfur Scores.
