Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§10003 Support for democratic governance, rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 107— - SUDAN DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FISCAL TRANSPARENCY › § 10003

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress allows the President to use U.S. foreign aid under parts of the Foreign Assistance Act to help Sudan’s political transition after months of protests against Omar al‑Bashir. The aid may fund programs to strengthen civilian government, support free and fair elections, back legal and policy changes that increase transparency and protect human rights (including religious freedom and civil liberties), defend free speech, the press, assembly, and association, boost women’s participation, and other related democracy and rule‑of‑law activities. This authority does not override the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 or the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008. Congress authorizes $20,000,000 to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022 to carry out these activities.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §10003

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is the sense of Congress that the political transition in Sudan, following several months of popular protests against the regime of Omar al-Bashir, represents an opportunity for the United States to support democracy, good governance, rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Sudan.
(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of law (other than the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 [22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.] and the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008), the President is authorized to provide assistance under part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq. and 2346 et seq.)—
(1)to provide for democracy and governance programs that strengthen and build the capacity of representative civilian government institutions, political parties, and civil society in Sudan;
(2)to support the organization of free, fair, and credible elections in Sudan;
(3)to provide technical support for legal and policy reforms that improve transparency and accountability and protect human rights, including religious freedom, and civil liberties in Sudan;
(4)to support human rights and fundamental freedoms in Sudan, including the freedoms of—
(A)religion or belief;
(B)expression, including for members of the press;
(C)assembly; and
(D)association;
(5)to support measures to improve and increase women’s participation in the political, economic, and social sectors of Sudan; and
(6)to support other related democracy, good governance, rule of law, and fundamental freedom programs and activities.
(c)Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq. and 2346 et seq.) for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, $20,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each such fiscal year to carry out this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, referred to in subsec. (b), is div. A of Pub. L. 106–386, Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1466, which is classified principally to chapter 78 (§ 7101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 7101 of this title and Tables. The Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (b), is title IV of Pub. L. 110–457, Dec. 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 5087, which is classified principally to sections 2370c to 2370c–2 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 2008 Amendment note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c), is Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424. Part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Act are classified generally to part I (§ 2151 et seq.) of subchapter I and part IV (§ 2346 et seq.) of subchapter II, respectively, of chapter 32 of this title. For provisions deeming references to part I of subchapter I to include a reference to section 2293 of this title, see section 2293(d)(1) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 10003

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73