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Posted May 8, 2008
This week, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) is marking up its version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. In previous versions of the bill, Congress granted increased funding to the Department of Defense (DOD) to pursue military activities in Africa and around the world. What is referred to as "Section 1206" or "Building Partnership Capacity" are programs that will be either expanded, deflated, or held level during mark-up. These programs could jeopardize economic development and good governance in Africa, resulting in true repercussions for the people of Africa.
Concerned about the increasing militarization of the African continent, AFJN - along with 16 other Africa-focused organizations and 10 individual Africa experts - sent a letter to HASC Chairman Ike Skelton and Ranking Member Duncan Hunter expressing our fears about the prevalence of military funding and the lack of attention to true development needs. Click here for the full text of the letter.
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) marked up its version of the bill last week, and according to the SASC Press Release, the committee "extends and enhances DOD authorities to train and equip foreign military forces and other counterterrorism forces." It is our sincere hope that HASC will decline to extend this program and that the Senate proposals will be weakened or eliminated during conference committee.
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At AFJN's 25th Anniversary Conference April 18-20, members of AFJN passed two resolutions. The first, a Resolution on Opposing the New U.S. Military Command for Africa (AFRICOM) , calls on the U.S. Congress to de-fund the new command and instead increase funding for development initiatives and multilateral diplomacy. Among other things, it also calls on the State Department to demand that Ambassadors remain Cheifs of Mission and to cease training and equipping armies of African governments which have committed human rights violations.
The second, a Resolution on Ending Violent Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) calls on the U.S. government to expand the ongoing diplomatic efforts and to support the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC). Among other things, it also calls on the U.S. Senate to pass the International Violence Against Women Act (S.2279) and to support the full implementation and renewal of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006 (S.2125).
The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) is a community of advocates for responsible U.S. relations with Africa. AFJN stresses issues of peacebuilding, human rights and social justice that tie directly into Catholic social teaching. AFJN works closely with Catholic missionary congregations and numerous Africa-focused coalitions of all persuasions...
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