U.S. Congressman Jim Baird has introduced legislation proposing an agricultural and mining partnership with Sudan, making cooperation conditional on progress towards civilian-led governance, protection of civilians and responsible management of natural resources.
The Sudan Investing in Minerals, Partnership, Agriculture, Commerce and Trade (IMPACT) Act, introduced as H.R. 10795, would provide U.S. agricultural and mining equipment, technology and technical assistance in exchange for access to Sudanese natural resources, according to a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj.
The bill states that the partnership cannot be established until the U.S. secretary of state determines that a legitimate, civilian-led governing authority in Sudan has taken sufficient steps to demonstrate measurable improvements in civilian protection, political stability and responsible management of the resources covered by the proposal.
It also stipulates that the programme would be implemented in agreement with appropriate counterparts in a civilian-led Sudanese government.
The proposal comes as Sudan remains engulfed in a war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023 and has caused widespread displacement, civilian suffering and damage to the country’s economy.
“Sudan’s civil war is devastating lives and holding back its future. Economic opportunity could play a major role in helping the Sudanese people build a more peaceful and prosperous country, but protecting civilians must come first,” Baird said.
Baird said Sudan’s mineral resources could help expand supplies of materials used in technologies such as mobile phones and cars, while creating economic opportunities for Sudanese people.
The proposed partnership could include farm machinery, precision-agriculture and irrigation technology, agricultural processing equipment, mining machinery, geological surveying technology and technical assistance to improve mine safety and address environmental damage.
The bill identifies gold, uranium, crude oil, chromium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, silver and nickel, as well as gum Arabic, among the resources that could be covered by the partnership.
The legislation would link access to these resources with progress towards civilian-led governance and improved protection of civilians. It does not, however, establish that Sudan has agreed to the proposed arrangement or that a partnership is already in place.
Baird introduced the bill on October 13, and it was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration. It has not become law.
Baird, a Republican, has represented Indiana’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 2019. Before entering Congress, he served in the Indiana General Assembly from 2010 to 2018 and as a county commissioner from 2006 to 2010. He serves on the House committees on Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space and Technology.
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