Presidential Determination on the Sudan Peace Act

President Bush certified to Congress that the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement were negotiating in good faith under the Sudan Peace Act, allowing continued negotiations and U.S. engagement. The Secretary of State was directed to notify Congress and publish the determination in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 68 FR 63977

Impact dates

Date TBD
Notification to Congress and Federal Register publication

Key directives

Determine and certify good-faith negotiations under Sudan Peace Act section 6(b)(1)(A)
Notify Congress of this determination
Arrange for publication in the Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Certification of good-faith negotiations transmitted to Congress
Federal Register publication arranged

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Continued U.S. policy engagement conditioned on sustained negotiations
Potential sanctions relief or other measures tied to future certifications

Risks & tensions

Certification may have been contested given ongoing violence in Darfur region during 2003
Document does not specify consequences if good-faith determination were withheld
Vague statutory standard for 'good faith' leaves discretion with executive