OPEN LETTER

 Sandy Spring, MD - November 29, 2022

Dear friends of Africa,

I write to you on behalf of a delegation of civil society and faith leaders visiting from East Africa, who have tirelessly been working on the frontlines of peacebuilding in their communities. These individuals are deeply committed to ending the violence and conflicts that have plagued the Horn and East Africa, and they seek your urgent attention and intervention.

While we understand that Capitol Hill is currently preoccupied with the war in Ukraine and the crisis in Gaza, we believe that the situation in East Africa warrants immediate action. The region is grappling with escalating violence, political instability, and humanitarian crises that threaten not only the lives and livelihoods of millions of people but also the stability of the continent and, by extension, global peace.

The African Voices of Hope: Salama HUB Africa Peacebuilding Delegation, is visiting Washington, DC to advocate for:

• Immediate Ceasefire: Call for an immediate ceasefire in conflict zones, facilitated by international mediators if necessary.

• Humanitarian Aid: Mobilize immediate humanitarian aid for affected communities, including food, medical aid, and shelter.

• Peacebuilding Initiatives: Support local peacebuilding initiatives and strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations working towards conflict resolution.

• Political Dialogue: Encourage inclusive political dialogue involving all stakeholders, including marginalized groups, to address the root causes of the conflicts.

• Accountability: Advocate for accountability for human rights violations and support efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

We invite you to join us welcome them with a social mixer on Sunday, December 3, at 4PM at the Historical Odd Fellows Lodge in Sandy Spring, MD.. 

In addition to their meetings on Capitol Hill, the delegation will be holding a press conference at the National Press Club on December 7th at 9:30 AM, and will be having a briefing reception with the Advocacy Network for Africa (AdNA) on December 8th – #MyFoodIsAfrican.

We urge you to consider this appeal, and are counting on you to work with us to bring peace to East Africa.

Sincerely yours,

Albert Gyan