We have an important chance to help stop the mass violence in Central African Republic, but we don’t have a lot of time – we need you all to take action today.
Seleka soldiers race through Bangui as gunfire and mortar rounds erupt in the capital December 5th, 2013 (photo via CNN).
Some of you know that we’ve been following the crisis in the Central African republic, which erupted in March 2013. Thousands have been killed and almost a fourth of the entire country has been displaced due brutal violence mainly perpetuated by Seleka rebels and “anti-balaka” fighters. In the most basic of terms, the country has now descended into tit-for tat retaliatory violence, which has shown little signs of abating.
There are currently 7,000 African Union and French peacekeeping troops in the country, and the United Nations has authorized 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission to take over these duties and help stabilize the country, starting in September.
This urgently needed UN peacekeeping mission is currently not funded.
Right now, U.S. leaders in Washington are meeting to decide the national budget for 2015. What this means is they’re deciding where and what to spend money on next year. While the U.S has already taken some great steps in assisting global efforts to bring the violence in CAR under control, there’s a real chance that they will not commit adequate funding to the critically important, life-saving UN peacekeeping mission. A lack of U.S. funding for the UN peacekeeping mission in CAR could cripple its ability to protect civilians and help stabilize the country.
What needs to happen for the U.S. to contribute funding?
It’s up to us to convince some key leaders in Washington to support U.S. funding for the UN mission. Today, we need to urge the Obama Administration (specifically the Office of Management and Budget, or OMB) to immediately request that Congress commit funding in the 2015 budget for the UN peacekeeping mission in CAR. If the Administration doesn’t submit this request, it’s very likely that Congress won’t commit any funding.
What do we need to do?
We need to let the Administration know that we care deeply about the CAR crisis, and want U.S. leaders to invest the resources that are needed to help resolve it.
Please tweet at the Obama Administration — specifically OMB using the handle @OMBPress — to show that you want the U.S. to help fund the UN peacekeeping mission in CAR. Urge them to act now. Here’s a tweet you can use:
We care about the #CARcrisis. @OMBPress, please act now. Help save lives & ask Congress to fund #CAR@UNPeacekeeping http://inv.fm/6015c5X1
This tweet links to a letter, signed by Invisible Chldren and 22 other NGOs, to the Obama Administration (specifically Sec. John Kerry and the head of OMB), urging them to request funding from Congress for the UN Peacekeeping mission in CAR.
After you’ve done that, ask your friends and family to do the same.
Why is Invisible Children involved?
Here are just two key reasons with the crisis in CAR is important to us:
1) CAR is in the midst of a terrible crisis where thousands of lives have been lost and millions continue to suffer. Some officials have said that the country is on the brink of genocide. Invisible Children is founded on the belief that our liberty is bound together and that we have a responsibility to protect each other. We have a very concrete opportunity to do that right now.
2) We are committed to seeing an end to the violence of Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Currently, Kony and his fighters are taking advantage of the chaos and instability in CAR in order to evade capture and maintain power by preying upon vulnerable communities. Stability in CAR is necessary in order to finally stop the LRA. (Get more information about LRA activity in CAR here).
Thank you for taking action. We’ve seen that when we raise our voices collectively and relentlessly for justice, we can change the course of history. We’ll keep you updated on the progress of the budget, and funding for this essential mission.
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