The civil war in Sudan is driving one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our time. Violence has displaced 12 million people. Famine was confirmed last year. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has continued striking lucrative new arms deals with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has helped the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fuel the devastation.

But a bright spot is emerging that could force the United States to stop ignoring UAE complicity in this crisis. Due to a bold effort to block U.S. weapons sales to the UAE from Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Sara Jacobs in the last Congress, the White House is now taking belated steps to assess whether the United Arab Emirates is providing — and assure that it will not provide — weapons to the RSF.

This is what can happen when lawmakers work to prioritize peace over profit. But the sad reality is that assurances may not be enough — and we’ll need members of Congress to keep up the pressure to ensure U.S. weapons no longer end up in the hands of human rights abusing governments like the UAE, Israel, Egypt, India, and more.

That’s where you come in: When we push, lawmakers listen. Recent efforts to halt weapons sales to the UAE governments are proof that grassroots pressure works. We need more voices willing to push for accountability, and with a new Congress just beginning, this is the moment to renew the call.