Washington Post joins Senator Coons' call for a better plan on al Qaeda takeover of northern Mali

In an editioral appearing in Monday's editions, The Washington Post joined Senator Coons' call for a better plan on al Qaeda's takeover of northern Mali. Senator Coons chaired a hearing on the situation there last week, noting that the space now controlled by al Qaeda is roughly the size of Texas and is the largest terrorist-controlled area in the world.

ACCORDING TO the Obama administration, northern Mali “has become a safe haven for extremist and terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and affiliates” — the same forces linked to the deadly Sept. 11 assault on the U.S. mission in Libya. Northern Mali, says Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Africa, has become “the largest territory controlled by Islamic extremists in the world.” A Taliban-style rule of stonings and amputations has been imposed, and a dire emergency is unfolding: 400,000 civilians have fled their homes, and, the United Nations says, 600,000 children under the age of 5 are threatened by severe malnutrition.

Not to worry. U.N. officials say that the terrorists will be subdued by a military intervention — but not before the fall of 2013.

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The Obama administration, for its part, is insisting that military action must be preceded by a multi-step political process, including democratic elections for a new Malian government and negotiations with groups in northern Mali that are not part of al-Qaeda. One, Ansar Dine, has imposed fundamentalist rule on Timbuktu and destroyed many of its priceless religious and cultural monuments, but the theory is that it can be detached from the transnational terrorists.

Negotiations, which began this month, are certainly worth a try. But it’s also worth bearing in mind what is happening while this process drags on. As a Malian minister told the Security Council, “there are floggings, amputation of limbs, summary executions, children forced to become soldiers, rapes, stoning, looting and the destruction of cultural and historical sites.” Perhaps the diplomats in Turtle Bay can conclude it’s prudent to allow such atrocities to continue for another 10 or 12 months. But morality as well as common sense suggests that intervention must come sooner.

Click here to read the Post's full editorial.

Video: Senator Coons talks Susan Rice and DRC on MSNBC

Senator Coons talked with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell on Thursday about the possible nomination of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice as Secretary of State, and about the developing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Senator Coons is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs.

You can watch the interview below:

Senators Coons announces bipartisan caucus on combating malaria and neglected tropical diseases

Senator Coons and Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced on Friday the expansion of the Senate Malaria Working Group, which they co-chair, to become a Congressional caucus that will focus on efforts to stem the global tide of 17 neglected tropical diseases including malaria.

Chris formally announced the Senate Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at a reception hosted by the United States Agency for International Development on Wednesday evening.

“Malaria and other neglected tropical diseases continue to wreak havoc on the lives and economies of numerous countries around the world,” Chris said. “Malaria and the seven most common neglected tropical diseases cause nearly two million deaths globally each year. I am proud to join Senator Wicker in underscoring our commitment for this issue and continuing to support U.S. efforts to prevent the spread of all tropical diseases.”

Malaria, an infectious blood disease spread by mosquitoes, is most prevalent in the developing world, with 90 percent of deaths occurring in Africa.  The majority of those killed are pregnant women and children under five years old.  The 17 neglected tropical diseases impact more than one billion people, including 500 million children in the world’s poorest countries.
 

Joseph Kony

I wanted to share some good news. Thanks to your support, our resolution condemning Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army for their crimes against humanity passed the Senate unanimously earlier this month.

In passing our resolution, which was cosponsored by 45 senators and hundreds of citizen cosponsors from across the country, the Senate took a stand in support of ongoing international efforts to remove Kony and his top commanders from the battlefield.

Our resolution, which I drafted with Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, called for the U.S. to continue to enhance its mobility, intelligence and logistical support of regional forces protecting civilians and pursuing the LRA. Kony and the LRA have terrorized Uganda and its neighbors in central Africa for more than two decades, tearing families apart and destroying communities. Joseph Kony represents the worst of mankind, and he and his commanders must be held accountable for their war crimes.

The Senate has taken an important step in passing this resolution and saying with one voice that the United States of America will not stand by silently in the face of mass atrocities.

Thank you so much for your support and commitment.

Senator Coons’ resolution condemning crimes of Joseph Kony passed by Senate

On Thursday, the full Senate unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by Senator Coons, the chair of the Subcommittee on African Affairs, condemning the crimes against humanity committed by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army.

“Joseph Kony and the LRA have terrorized Uganda and its neighbors in central Africa for more than two decades,” Chris said. “I applaud my colleagues for unanimously passing this bipartisan resolution condemning the crimes committed by the LRA and supporting ongoing regional efforts to bring Kony and top LRA commanders to justice once and for all.”

Chris’ resolution, Senate Resolution 402, supports the ongoing international efforts to remove Kony from the battlefield and calls for the U.S. to continue to enhance its mobility, intelligence and logistical support of regional forces protecting civilians and pursuing the LRA.

This bipartisan resolution, which Chris sponsored with Sen.  Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), was co-sponsored by 45 members of the Senate – nearly half the body. Following introduction, hundreds of Americans signed on as “citizen cosponsors” to show their support for efforts to stop Joseph Kony.

In April of this year, Chris chaired an African Affairs Subcommittee hearing on U.S. policy to counter the LRA. In June, he personally visited Uganda, where he thanked President Museveni for the efforts of the Ugandan military to root out the LRA and for the strong partnership between the U.S. and the Ugandan people. He also visited the northern Uganda community of Gulu, where the United States is supporting efforts to rebuild communities affected by the LRA. 

Honoring Nelson Mandela

Senator Coons, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, extended his warm congratulations to Nelson Mandela on his 94th birthday on Wednesday.

Mandela has devoted his life to serving the people of South Africa. His unbreakable will and unwavering determination helped end apartheid and lift South Africa out of turmoil. Mandela’s enduring legacychanged the arc of history, transforming his country and his continent.

To honor his historic service, the United States joined 192 other nations in the creation of Nelson Mandela International Day.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work on foreign policy.

Video: Senator Coons talks Africa at the Center for Strategic & International Studies

Senator Chris Coons was a featured speaker at the Center for Strategic & International Studies on June 19, 2012. Senator Coons’ speech, entitled, “The Nexus of Security, Development and Governance: Reflections from a Recent Trip to East Africa,” focused on his recent CODEL to East Africa.

Senator Coons recognizes World Malaria Day

Today, Senator Coons marked World Malaria Day by highlighting Delaware’s unique, important role in eradicating the disease worldwide.  

This afternoon, Chris spoke at an event hosted by Malaria No More featuring the latest U.S. research and development from public and private institutions working to combat malaria. One of the institutions included was Delaware’s own Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biology, which is utilizing a nearly $10 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a transmission-blocking vaccine that would render bites from malarial mosquito harmless.

“While we have come a long way in lowering the number of malaria-related deaths, we still have much work to do to stem the spread of this preventable, treatable disease,” Senator Coons said. “Through public and private research, we are developing promising new advancements in eradicating malaria globally, and the Delaware-based Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biology is leading the charge.”

Malaria is a parasitic blood disease spread by mosquitoes, and while it was eradicated from the United States in 1951, the debilitating disease still kills 655,000 people each year around the world. It is most prevalent in the developing world, with 90 percent of related deaths occurring in Africa.  The majority of those killed are pregnant women and children under five years old.    

In partnership with Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Senator Coons has sponsored two resolutions supporting the goals of World Malaria Day, which aims to end malaria deaths by 2015. He also supports U.S. leadership to combat malaria as a critical component of the President’s Global Health Initiative.

Senator Coons chairs hearing on Joseph Kony

This morning, Senator Coons, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, held a hearing examining U.S. policy to counter the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and its leader, Joseph Kony.

In his opening statement, Chris declared “Joseph Kony epitomizes the worst of mankind and evil in the modern day.”   He showed this chart, demonstrating that in the past four months alone, the LRA has committed 132 attacks despite increased U.S. and regional efforts to kill or capture Kony and his top lieutenants.

Witnesses at today’s hearing included Principal Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto, Assistant Administrator for Africa at USAID Earl Gast and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda Dory.

On a second panel of witnesses, two former LRA abductees, Jolly Okot and Jacob Acaye, shared their stories. Chris personally thanked them for attending, noting they both “endured horrific experiences in Uganda, and survived to courageously tell their story.”

The hearing stressed the broad bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for stopping Kony, and for the recent deployment of 100 U.S. military advisors, which just yesterday, President Obama announced would continue to train regional militaries. 

Chris also took time to show a video he made to respond to the millions of Americans – especially young people – who recently became involved in this issue due to the effective advocacy of NGOs such as Resolve, Invisible Children, and the Enough Project. He is also sponsoring a resolution, with 40 other bipartisan members of the Senate, condemning the LRA and supporting continued U.S. efforts to strengthen the capabilities of regional militaries, increase civilian protection, and provide assistance to populations affected by the LRA. Join Chris as a citizen cosponsor of his resolution here.

Video: Senators respond to Kony 2012 movement

The day before the Kony 2012 movement’s global day of action, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) released a video on the Senate’s efforts to support the removal of Joseph Kony and his top lieutenants in the Lord’s Resistance Army from the battlefield in central Africa. Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), is also featured in the video, which is aimed at the millions of young Americans who have become part of the Kony 2012 movement in the last month.