Re-election of al-Bashir in Sudan a Travesty

Amid boycotts, allegations of fraud, deadly violence, and a civil war, Omar al-Bashir was sworn in for another five-year term as the President of Sudan yesterday.

Throughout al-Bashir's presidency, hundreds of thousands were killed and millions displaced from Darfur, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for the President alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The U.N. estimates the humanitarian crisis in Darfur is the worst in the world today. President Omar al-Bashir's re-election is a travesty and a reminder that we must not leave this crisis in the shadows of history.

As Speaker of the Colorado State House, I sponsored HB07-1184 requiring the state to divest funds from companies with ties to al-Bashir's regime. Further, I traveled to China to meet with officials about Sudan and human rights abuses.

As U.S. Senator, I will continue my efforts to shed light on the horrors in Darfur and make the first genocide of the 21st century the last.