Cut the Deficit by Stopping Aid to the Rwandan Government
Posted January 21st, 2011
Today, tell Congress to take the smart way out of our budget deficit: cut financial aid to oppressive regimes in Africa like the Rwandan government. In President Obama’s 2011 proposed budget more than $240 million was designated for Rwanda. Since 2000, US assistance to Rwanda is estimated at $1,034 billion.
If you don’t think it is a good idea to let President Obama and Congress borrow money from China or raise taxes from you to support the Rwandan regime, contact your elected officials today and urge them to cut funding to the Rwandan government.
The Obama administration is continuing the tradition of using your tax money to support oppressive regimes with terrible human rights records. Rwandan President Paul Kagme has failed to provide healing and reconciliation for the Rwandan people after the genocide of 1994, and has been involved in extreme violence in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1996.
The invasion into the Congo is called “the deadliest war since World War II” with an estimated death count of 6 million. On Ocotober 1, 2010 the UN released a report that stated that Rwandan troops committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and possibly genocide in DRC. For these reasons and more, other states, like Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands, cut funding to Rwanda.
Below is a sample message. Feel free to adapt it:
My name is ______and I am your constituent. Our federal budget is out of control and many Americans are struggling to make ends meet. It is important for me that you balance the federal budget by cutting aid to dictatorial regimes such as the Rwandan government. President Kagame’s poor human rights record in Rwanda and Congo is well documented by the State department, Congress, the UN, Human Rights Watch and other reliable sources. Support development in Africa by stopping aid to undemocratic regimes such as President Kagame’s. I will be following your actions in this matter.
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Thanks,
AFJN Staff
