This morning, a bipartisan group of Congressmen that included Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA), Donald Payne (D-NJ) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) held a press conference to highlight recent developments in Sudan and call for intensified U.S. engagement to achieve peace in Darfur and prevent a return to conflict between North and South Sudan. The Congressman were joined by representatives of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, which just returned from conducting an official visit to Sudan that coincided with Khartoum’s recent crackdown on peaceful protests and arrests of opposition figures.

Speaking to the press, the Congressmen issued united calls for personal, sustained engagement by Secretary of State Clinton and by President Obama in advancing the administration’s new Sudan policy. Rep. Wolf noted the immediate need for such leadership, noting that this week and the next will be critical times requiring US engagement.

While supportive of the overall framework of the administration’s Sudan policy, the Congressman stressed that implementation remains the critical question. In points echoed by the other representatives, Rep. Payne commended Special Envoy General Gration’s intentions, dedication, and time spent on the ground in Sudan, but stressed the need to examine and measure results. All three Congressmen expressed concern that the Administration has not shared clear benchmarks for evaluating progress in Sudan, as well as defined incentives and pressure measures.

The Congressmen highlighted the grave humanitarian situation in Darfur and threat of a return to conflict between north and south Sudan. Rep. Smith stressed that Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement is in grave danger of unraveling and expressed deep concern about the flow of arms into South Sudan, noting that this should sound alarm bells for the international community.

Reports from representatives from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom on its recent delegation to Sudan served to complement the Congressmen’s remarks. USCIRF chair Leonard Leo stressed that the international community will follow the U.S.’s example and echoed the Congressmen’s calls for urgent and high-level engagement by the President and Secretary of State. Leo also noted the lack of progress in passing reforms necessary to allow for free and fair elections in Sudan. He stressed that the international community will continue to see tactics of delay and repositioning by the Government of Sudan unless it faces greater international pressure led by the U.S.

The Save Darfur Coalition, Enough Project and Genocide Intervention Network welcomed this morning’s hearing with a joint statement. Save Darfur’s president Jerry Fowler noted: “With elections rapidly approaching and the atmosphere getting more and more volatile, the situation in Sudan cries out for presidential leadership. In his Nobel address, President Obama recognized that the ‘world must stand together as one’ in dealing with recalcitrant regimes like Sudan’s. That will not happen without sustained engagement by President Obama himself. “