A couple of weeks ago, my Global Voices colleague Rosebell Idaltu Kagumire contacted Ato Ulzen-Appiah, Nii Ayertey and myself about adding our voices to their new Twitter campaign – Africans Act 4 Africa which is focusing on the current Congo crisis.
The 2012 East Democratic Republic of Congo conflict is a continuation of fighting that has gone on in North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2002–2003.
In April 2012, up to 700 ethnic Tutsi soldiers mutinied against the DRC government supported by the peacekeeping contingent of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Mutineers formed a rebel group called the March 23 Movement (M23), also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army, composed of former members of the rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), allegedly sponsored by the government of the neighbouring Rwanda. (Wikipedia)
About Africans Act 4 Africa:
Africans Act 4 Africa brings together citizens and activists from across the continent to put pressure on African Governments to step up to various challenges. We advocate for increased responsibility of African governments in African conflicts, disasters and other emergency situations.
Since it’s formation in 2011 in response to the food crisis in the Horn of Africa, Africans Act 4 Africa has expanded. From calling on leaders to respond better to the recent Sahel food crisis, we now turn our attention to the Great Lakes Region and Eastern Democratic Republic Of Congo (DRC) conflicts in particular.
What can you do for Congo?
Africans Act 4 Africa will gather our voices together and present to Chairperson Dlamini-Zuma at the African Union Summit in January. Make your voice heard by African leaders and citizens by tweeting the @_AfricanUnion and calling for strong leadership to solve the crisis in Congo.
Choose from one of the sample tweets here or create your own – remember to use #Act4Congo and @_AfricanUnion in your tweets.
Watch this viral video below of African celebrities and Activists encouraging their fellow Africans to support the campaign and get involved.
You don’t have to be African to support the cause. Follow Africans Act 4 Africa on Twitter at @AfricansAct and like them on Facebook. Show your love and support and leave them a message now.
