Minnesota House Democrat heads to Darfur region

Many members of Congress take overseas trips over the August recess, but Minnesota Democrat Rep. Keith Ellison is embarking on a different type of journey.

The second-term congressman left for the war-torn region of Darfur, Sudan late on Monday. He tweeted about his mission:

Rolling to Dulles, then to Sudan. Destination: Darfur. Juba and Khartoum too. Goal: investigate the humanitarian crisis, chances for peace.

Plane is taking off for Sudan. Surprised they let me in given my protest activity at the Embassy. Investigating the humanitarian situation.

How does Darfur trip help MN? 1) MN has Sudanese folks 2) many in MN are globally aware, 3) conflict tends to spread, 4) US aid goes there.

Darfur is the site of an ongoing ethnic civil war between the government’s Janjaweed militia and rebel groups. The United States has classified brutal actions taken against civilians in the region as a genocide.

A group of four Democratic congressman, including Ellison, was arrested in late April after protesting at the Sudanese embassy in Washington.