June 4, 2015

The Honorable Michael Capuano

United States House of Representatives

1414 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Jeff Fortenberry

United States House of Representatives

1514 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Barbara Lee

United States House of Representatives

2267 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Michael McCaul

United States House of Representatives

131 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Co-Chairs of the Sudan Caucus,

We, the undersigned, representing 125 South Sudanese and friends of South Sudan organizations and individuals, write to request that you urge President Obama to invite South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former Vice President Riek Machar, a representative of the G-10, and other South Sudan leaders to the United States to discuss with him and Members of Congress a way forward that would permanently end violence and immediately re-start a peaceful and sustainable development process in South Sudan. As you are aware, thousands of South Sudanese have lost their lives since December 2013 and millions are at risk. The current mediation process has not been fruitful and a new approach is urgently needed.

Undoubtedly South Sudan is of vital strategic interest to the United States, but beyond that, South Sudan is a country that is home to friends and loved ones of the American people. The U.S. helped bring tens of thousands of South Sudanese to the U.S., and as a result, Americans have developed deep and lasting friendships with South Sudanese as they sought refuge in our communities, away from a Sudanese dictator whose actions cost the lives of 2.5 million and displaced over 4.5 million. Americans opened their hearts and their homes to South Sudanese men, women, and children who were determined to gain an education and work experience in order to someday return home and rebuild their country. Americans caught their vision and invested their lives and resources into helping these courageous people achievetheir dreams. For example, investments were made in education and healthcare, not only for South Sudanese refugees living in the United States, but for their family and friends back home in South Sudan.

Americans also contacted their Members of Congress and elected officials and persistently demanded U.S. engagement in ending war and providing desperately needed humanitarian aid in southern Sudan.

For the past few decades, the United States has invested billions of dollars in South Sudan to save lives.

South Sudan is not merely an urgent foreign policy issue, South Sudan is our friend and as such, it deserves and should enjoy engagement beyond politics as usual.

Two great friends of South Sudan, the late Congressman Donald Payne and retired Congressman Frank Wolf, like you, devoted their careers to ending violence and building peace in Sudan and what would become South Sudan. In their honor and on behalf of the American people, we ask that you please take every possible opportunity to engage with President Obama regarding our request. We cannot guarantee that such a meeting or series of meetings with South Sudan leaders in the U.S. will bring peace to South Sudan, but we do know that it is the right thing to do. We know that as friends, we must take extraordinary measures to help those we love.

Sincerely,

Elijah Brown, Chief of Staff 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative Washington, DC USA

Martina Knee, Co-Founder Act for Sudan San Francisco, CA USA

Al Sutton, M.D., President African Freedom Coalition New York, NY USA

Debra Dawson, President African Soul, American Heart Fargo, ND USA

C. Richard Parkins, Executive Director American Friends of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (AFRECS) Alexandria, VA USA

Omer Abdelsawi Omer Blue Nile Association for Peace and Development USA

Khalid Kodi Adjunct Professor Boston College, Brown University Boston, MA USA

Patrece M Clinical Social Worker Breakthrough Transition LLC USA

Laura Limuli, Coordinator Brooklyn Coalition for Darfur & Marginalized Sudan Brooklyn, NY USA

Gai Agok Adier Student, Cavendish University Jonglei South Sudan

Dr. Luka Biong Centre for Peace and Development Studies Juba, Central Equatoria, South Sudan

The Baroness Cox House of Lords Westminister, UK

The Reverend Heidi McGinness Director of Outreach Christian Solidarity International-USA Denver, CO USA

Sam Lony Geng Team Leader Clippoverty Juba, South Sudan

Bill Andress, Facilitator Coalition of Advocates for South Sudan Lexington, SC USA

Dr. Timothy R.W. Kubik, Chairman Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action Denver, CO USA

Anita Sanborn, President Colorado Episcopal Foundation Denver, CO USA

Micklina Kenyi, Executive Director Community of South Sudanese and America Women/Men (CSSAW) Boulder, CO USA

Richard Sribnick, MD, Chairman Darfur Action Group of South Carolina Columbia, SC USA

Cory Williams, Co-Founder Darfur and Beyond Phoenix, AZ USA

Martha Boshnick, Co-Chair Darfur Interfaith Network Washington, DC USA

Mohamed Haroun Ebead, President Darfur Peoples’ Association of New York Brooklyn, NY USA

Dr. Debby Bellingham Spiritual Director Ossining, NY USA

C. L. Perrinjaquet, MD, MPH Medical Director Doctors to the World Breckenridge, CO USA

Eric Reeves Northampton, MA USA

Marv Steinberg, Coordinator Genocide No More – Save Darfur Redding, CA USA

Dr. Gregory Stanton Founding President, Genocide Watch Research Professor in Genocide Studies and Prevention George Mason University Arlington, VA USA

Sarah Rial, President Global Partnership for Peace in South Sudan Boston, MA USA

Marilyn Griep, Co-Founder Idaho Darfur Coalition Boise, ID USA

Randy Butler, CEO Institute Sustainable Peace Houston, TX USA

Slater Armstrong Founder/Director Joining Our Voices Baton Rouge, LA USA

Dr. Luka Biong Executive Director KUSH, Inc. Juba, Central Equatoria South Sudan

Dr. Thon Paul Agok Managing Director Live Well South Sudan Organization Juba, Republic of South Sudan

Nancy Walsh, Coordinator Long Island Darfur Action Group Farmingdale, NY USA

Allan Reed Former USAID Mission Director, South Sudan Long-time friend of South Sudan San Francisco, CA USA

Lauren Fortgang and Diane Koosed Co-Chairs Never Again Coalition Portland, OR USA

Claire Budd Nuba Now United Kingdom

David Rosenberg, Coordinator Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition Pittsburgh, PA USA

Mohamed Suleiman President San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition San Francisco, CA USA

Carmen Paolercio Coordinator Shine A Ray of Hope New Rochelle, NY USA

Benedict Killang, Member South Sudan Community of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA USA

Joseph Stewart Sr. Founder and Director South Sudan Volunteer Initative Oslo, Norway

The Reverend Ronald D. Culmer St. Clare’s Episcopal Church Pleasanton, CA USA

Washington, DC USA

Gabriel Stauring Director and Founder Stop Genocide Now Redondo Beach, CA USA

Margaret I. Atarri Representative South Sudan Women United New York, NY USA

Dr. Eleanor Wright, Moderator Sudan Advocacy Action Forum Birmingham, AL USA

Ismail Kardoly Secretary General Sudan Human Rights Network Washington, DC USA

Tom Prichard Executive Director Sudan Sunrise Reston, VA USA

Esther Sprague Founder and Director Sudan Unlimited San Francisco, CA USA

Francesca Freeman

Student Director

STAND: The Student-Led Movement to End Mass Atrocities

Nell Okie, Director The Elsa-Gopa Trust Madison, CT USA

Faith J.H. McDonnell Director of Religious Liberty Program The Institute on Religion and Democracy Church Alliance for a New Sudan Washington, DC USA

Dr. Mac Brown, Moderator Trinity South Sudan Ministry Columbia, SC USA

Rebecca Tinsley, Founder Waging Peace London, England UK

Roger Winter, Woodbine, MD

Kawthar Albe, Pittsburgh, PA

Bahar Arabie, Gaithersburg, MD

Rachel Veerman, Torrance, CA

Sharon Beth Long, Bronx, NY

Sandy Green, Greenville, PA

Dennis Kaplan, Mayfield Heights, OH

Langley Granbery, Nashville, TN

Kijler Marble, Pride, LA

Neilia Gracias, New York, NY

Charles Collins,Phoenix, AZ

Ligia Toma, Glendale, AZ

Sophia Laam, Lincoln, NE

Linda Farb, Westminster, CO

Mamer Kuer Ajak, Nairobi, Kenya

Dhor Arol, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Dvera Hadden, Columbia, SC

Ev. Fahed Abuakel, Atlanta, GA

Kaidi Rial, Gatineau, Canada

Anne Hawkins, Aiken, SC

Barbara Mathieu, Los Angeles, CA

Catherine Arata, Baltimore, MD

Sarah Hanson, Pacifica, CA

Shadrack Jolobi, East Hartford, CT

Nettie Parker, West Hartford, CT

Samantha Hudson, London, UNITED KINGDOM

Clayton Newhouse, San Francisco, CA

Bruce Henderson, Waverly, Ohio

Darlene Chamberlin, San Diego, CA

Lisa Litsey, San Francisco, CA

Otto Zingg, Waverly, OH

Nyuon Gatjiek, Philadelphia, PA

Richard Young Potomac, MD

Abraham Majak, Philadelphia, PA

Ring Mariik, Turalei,SOUTH SUDAN

Delores Sprague, Boise, ID

Willingham, Columbia, SC

Daniel Geu, Fort Hood, TX

Stephanie Neifeld, Ocate, NM

Peter Kuch, Fayetteville, NC

George Sworo, Philadelphia, PA

Susan Brooks, Torrance, CA

Cody Watson, Hoover, AL

Akur Manyuon, Charlotte, NC

Elijah Manyok Jok, Juba, SOUTH SUDAN

Allen Parmenter, Albany, NY

Doreen Romney, Tempe, AZ

Tammie Bishop, Oakland, CA

Shirley Howe, Vincentown, NJ

Nancy Pennington, Seattle, WA

Reinelda Huck, Waverly, OH

Jane Bonner, Glen Mills, PA

Jessica Couleur, Phoenix, AZ

Rev. Francis Nyawello Chan, Des Moines, IA

The Rev. Dr. David B. Madsen, Des Moines, IA

Katie Rivers, San Francisco, CA

Anwar Killa, Juba/ Khartoum, SUDAN

Alan Lambert, Gibsonburg, OH

Rajeeva Ranjan, New Delhi, INDIA

Alan Smith, Leeds, UNITED KINGDOM

Amy Fisher, Santa Monica, CA

Jack Boyle, BLM, IL

Arild Warud, Ericeira, PORTUGAL

Christopher Lopez, Springfield, VA

Kathryn Irby, Gulfport, MS

Steve Finger, Boone, NC

C. Bradley, Hood River, OR

Sandy Rodgers, Carmichael, CA

Maryann Staron, Evergreen Park, IL

John Brewer, Marietta, OH

Edward Laurson, Denver, CO

P.S. Please find below messages included with some of the signatures.

Roger Winter, Woodbine, MD No doubt, the people of South Sudan deserve peace now.

Bill Andress, Lexington, SC People are dying in large numbers because of the greed for power and wealth of a few leaders. A nation is being destroyed. No one can make as much difference as can the United States.

E.B. Weiss, New York, NY The situation in Sudan and South Sudan cannot remain status quo. Please do the right thing and take action to stop the genocide and human atrocities. Thank you.

Faith McDonnell, Annandale, VA My heart is breaking for the people of South Sudan.

Sandy Green, Fairfax, VA My heart grieves over what these poor people continue to have to endure because the world looks away!

Charles Collins,San Antonio, TX I want to be on God’s side caring for human beings that are crushed by oppression.

Kaidi Rial, Gatineau, Canada I need urgent peace in South Sudan the people are suffering and dying by the day.

Gai Agok Adier, Juba, South Sudan I think this will help to bring our leaders together to reconcile for quest of peace and stability which will put an end to current conflict that has caused suffering of innocent lives.

Barbara Mathieu, Los Angeles, CA I’m signing because I chair the board of directors of The Marol Academy. Our executive director, Jok Madut Jok, has opened a school in his rural village in Warrap State, where over 600 youth are currently enrolled in the school that is in its eighth year. We have formed a close and sustained friendship with those in this rural village eager to get an education and with their families grateful for the opportunity afforded their daughters and sons. The South Sudanese people desire peace, stability and wish to build a nation on principles of equity, justice and mutual respect. We must do what we can to support these objectives.

Sarah Hanson, Pacifica, CA These are people.

Nettie Parker Bauman, Esq., West Hartford, CT The United States helped establish South Sudan. We now have the duty to help raise it. Also, I’ve never met kinder, more industrious people.

Karen Henderson, Waverly, OH I want to do all I can to help facilitate peace in South Sudan and in the Republic of Sudan.

Darlene Chamberlin, San Diego,CA The violence needs to STOP!

Baroness Caroline Cox, LONDON, ENGLAND I’m signing this letter because of my deep concern for the continuing suffering of the peoples of South Sudan and the need for the international community to assist with the development of a lasting solution to bring peace with justice to South Sudan.

Abraham Majak, Lansing, MI I am signing because I need peace to come to South Sudan.

Ring Mariik, Turalei, PA I’m signing this petition because am a concern citizen of both South Sudan and US. Please help my people achieve peace!!!

Karen Henderson, Waverly, OH “The people of Sudan deserve to live in peace with one another–without fear of death by political or religious rivals.”

DANIEL GEU, FORT HOOD,TX May save lives.

George Sworo, Philadelphia, PA I love South Sudan the land of my birth.

Susan Brooks, Torrance, CA I’m a long time advocate with Jewish World Watch and we can’t stand idly by

Cody Watson, Hoover, AL Jesus calls us to be peacemakers and proclaim release to the captives and good news to the oppressed.

Akur Manyuon, Charlotte, NC I am signing this because am sick and tried of hearing innocent kid, women men.die ..who have nothing to do with war or their corruption.

Allen Parmenter, Albany, NY Attempts must be made

Reinelda Huck, Waverly, OH I have been to Sudan and have great concern for the people there and for the Christian leaders.

Jane Bonner, Glen Mills, PA We need to love one another and defend the innocent.

Katie Rivers, San Francisco, CA I’m signing because the current efforts for peace in South Sudan are not working. If the US can provide an interruption and change the course or the peace talks, that would be helpful. Specifically the leaders of South Sudan need to be connected to the people in South Sudan, the ones on the ground who are suffering. If you can help open their eyes, that would be appreciated.

Anwar Killa, Juba/ Khartoum Peace, accountability

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