Africa Faith & Justice Network has a strong and vibrant campaign against AFRICOM, the U.S. military command for Africa. We are also firmly devoted to advocacy for development and restorative justice in northern Uganda. A few weeks ago, these issues came together in a bittersweet piece of legislation by the U.S. Congress.




While it provides crucial development aid and support for transitional justice, the new bill (S. 1067, H.R. 2478) also includes a statement of policy that would allow the U.S. military to pursue Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in D.R. Congo.


Will you sign a petition today, asking members of Congress to cut that section of the bill and promote a peaceful resolution to the LRA crisis?


AFJN strongly supports many parts of the legislation; however, we believe that allowing AFRICOM to assist in an attack against the LRA is a recipe for disaster. Civilians are certain to be caught in the crossfire, abducted child soldiers will likely die, and northeastern Congo will remain a place of instability and violence.


Operation "Lightning Thunder," the U.S.-supported Ugandan attack on the LRA in December of 2008 failed miserably. We have no reason to believe that this will be any different, or that the U.S. is justified in supporting a dictatorial regime's armed forces. Even if Kony is captured, the U.S. will be repeating its Cold War folly of sacrificing long term democratic progress for short term stability.


Please click here to sign this petition, telling Congress that you support reconstruction in northern Uganda but that you want your tax dollars to be used for peace rather than war. We will deliver your signatures to key offices on Capitol Hill, and will continue to push for a diplomatic solution to the LRA conflict.


Thank you for your dedication on this issue!


Source: AFJN - Africa Faith and Justice Network