Obama appoints special envoy to Sudan

WASHINGTON, March 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday he has appointed retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration as his special envoy to Sudan.

Gration's background -- he grew up in Africa as the son of missionaries -- and his service to the country "give him the insights and experience necessary for this assignment," Obama said.

"Sudan is a priority for this administration, particularly at a time when it cries out for peace and for justice," Obama said. "I have made clear my intention to work with the international community to end the suffering."

Obama said he worked with Gration for several years and traveled with him to refugee camps in Chad filled with those who were displaced by the genocide in Darfur.

"He knows the region, has broad experience and has my complete confidence," Obama said.

On March 4, the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, charged Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir with seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for a vicious campaign in Darfur that left more than 300,000 civilians dead and drove more than 2.7 million people from their homes.