Africa Notes: Senator Danforth's Sudan Challenge: Building a Bridge to Peace - January 2002

January 1, 2002

Just before the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, President Bush launched the highest-level initiative aimed at addressing the Sudanese civil war ever undertaken by an American administration. On September 6, on the White House lawn, the president named former senator John Danforth as his special envoy, with a six-month mandate to ascertain whether there is any demonstrable willingness on the part of the government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) to seek a negotiated settlement to Sudan’s 18-year war, and what future constructive role the United States might play in promoting a multilateral peace effort.