++ UPDATE 5/6/14: Watch a recording of the hearing here ++

Today at 10am ET, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on African Affairs will hold a hearing about the ongoing crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR). The aim of the hearing is to keep the CAR crisis on the radar of the U.S. Government and to better identify how the U.S. can most effectively address the issue. Some of our partners at Mercy Corps and Catholic Relief Services, who work in areas of CAR affected by LRA violence and the broader crisis, will be testifying before members of Congress about the situation in CAR. The hearing is an important opportunity to put a spotlight on the region and the severity of the ongoing violence and humanitarian needs (which started back in March 2012), and to make sure the U.S. Government’s attention doesn’t wane.

There’s an urgent need for a greater international response in order to effectively address the crisis in CAR, and we’re grateful to the leadership of the House Subcommittee on Africa for holding this hearing.

Invisible Children will be following this hearing closely, and will continue to work with our partners in Washington to support efforts that will help bring lasting peace to CAR. Security and stability is necessary for the well-being of all CAR’s citizens, and it is a critical component for permanently ending LRA violence. As we highlighted in the 2013 LRA Crisis Tracker Annual Security Report, there is strong evidence that Joseph Kony is taking advantage of the turmoil in CAR to evade capture and supply his forces. That said, we also hope that counter-LRA efforts are also discussed in today’s hearing, as an important part of the work needed to see lasting peace in CAR.

Take Action:

1)  Watch the hearing live at 10am ET. Tweet at @Invisible to let us know you’re watching, and make sure to use the hashtag #CARcrisis.

2) Tweet at @HouseForeign with your encouragement, concerns and questions. Here’s what we’re saying to them:

THANKS @HOUSEFOREIGN FOR DISCUSSING #CARCRISIS. PLEASE KEEP STOPPING #LRA VIOLENCE A PRIORITY & FIND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO CAR INSTABILITY

(Picture credit: Marcus Bleasdale)