Editor’s Note: This post was written by Enough Project Intern Zak Mitiche
The Enough Project joined a diverse community of 19 advocacy, faith and human rights organizations issuing an open letter today to President Obama as he embarks upon his historic trip to Kenya and Ethiopia. The letter urges the President to take a number of specific steps to combat the culture of impunity to help forge an enabling environment for peace negotiations.
With a worsening humanitarian situation characterized by insecurity and a lack of accountability for perpetrators of economic and atrocity crimes, including pillaging and grand corruption, the letter provides a roadmap for President Obama during his time in the region.
Specifically, the letter asks the President to take concrete steps on his trip, including:
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Press heads of state to support regional enforcement of existing sanctions designations and build regional support for both additional high-level designations against individuals who continue to undermine the peace process and orchestrate attacks against civilians
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Press regional heads of state to support a United Nations arms embargo
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Urge Kenya and Ethiopia to share intelligence and contribute actively to the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Eastern Africa to jumpstart efforts to trace, seize, freeze, and return the proceeds of corruption to the people of South Sudan.
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Publically endorse the need for a hybrid court for South Sudan and push for the consideration and release of the African Union Commission of Inquiry (AU CoI) report.
In addition to the Enough Project, signatories include: American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan, American Jewish World Service, the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, Citizens for Global Solutions, Darfur Interfaith Network, Humanity United, i-ACT, Jewish World Watch, the National Association of Evangelicals, the National Council of Churches, the Presbyterian Church USA, Sojourners, STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, The Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ – Justice and Witness Ministries, United to End Genocide, Voices for Sudan, and World Without Genocide at William Mitchell College of Law.
Read and download the letter >
Take action in support of the letter’s message >
The conflict in South Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people, displacing an estimated 2 million and leaving 4.6 million in need of humanitarian assistance.