U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration departs this evening for Sudan to observe the Southern Sudan referendum and demonstrate U.S. support as the parties work to implement this cornerstone of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Special Envoy Gration, with U.S. Senior Advisor for North-South Negotiations Ambassador Princeton Lyman, will meet with government representatives, the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission, and United Nations officials. He then will travel to Juba to observe the opening of polling on January 9 for the Southern Sudan referendum.

Special Envoy Gration also will travel to Darfur with Ambassador Dane Smith, the administration’s newly appointed Senior Advisor on Darfur, to meet with government officials, United Nations and African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) leadership, and civil society groups.