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US Special Envoy: No cozy relationships with Africa Great Lakes' heavy handed regimes
US Special Envoy: No cozy relationships with Africa Great Lakes' heavy handed regimes
Posted on June 18, 2013
by Jacques Bahati
Former Senator from Wisconsin, Russ Feingold, has been appointed US Special Representative for the African Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. National and international organizations have been calling for this appointment since 2006.
Although Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) receives with optimism the appointment of the special envoy, we wait to see more constructive US policy in the region. Such policy would include unconditional support to democracy, rule of law, human rights promotion, civil society empowerment and conflict prevention and development. We oppose any policy that will nurture further cozy relationships with the Great Lakes' heavy handed regimes. "Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions" (Accra/Ghana Speech, President Obama July 11, 2009).
Working closely with Secretary of State Kerry, a special envoy has legal tools to achieve fair, creditable and just US policies in this region.Public Law 109-456 section 105 states that "The Secretary of State is authorized to withhold assistance made available under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), other than humanitarian, peacekeeping, and counterterrorism assistance, for a foreign country if the Secretary determines that the government of the foreign country is taking actions to destabilize the Democratic Republic of the Congo." We recall that in July 2012 in accordance with US Public law 112-74 the US withheld $200,000 from the Rwandan government over Rwanda's support to rebel group M23, but more has to be done. It is our hope that the special envoy will help facilitate a much-needed change from the failed policies of the Clinton Administration era which emboldened Rwandan President Kagame to invade DRC in 1996 (with Ugandan President Museveni's support ). The ongoing proxy wars and friendly relationships with certain rebel groups in eastern DRC continue to challenge peacekeeping efforts in DRC's border provinces with these two nations.
In coordinating US diplomatic efforts in the region we hope that the special envoy will also give due attention to the implementation of other relevant US laws such as Section 1502 of Public Law 111-203, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and the Consumer Protection Act of 2010 which focuses on conflict mineral from the DRC and the region in general.
The appointment of a special envoy is required by the 2006 US public law 109-456, The Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act, the only bill the former junior Senator Barack Obama introduced in his time in the senate. Section 107 of this law requires that "Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President should appoint a Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region to help coordinate efforts to resolve the instability and insecurity in Eastern Congo." President Obama has been reminded of this since he became President in 2008 and it has taken 5 years to deliver on a law he wrote.
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Africa Realities Media offre un espace aux écrivains, chercheurs, experts, activistes, voix communautaires, militants, analystes et personnes ayant une expérience vécue qui souhaitent contribuer à des contenus réfléchis, responsables et courageux sur les changements nécessaires dans la région des Grands Lacs, ainsi que sur les réalités politiques, économiques, culturelles et sociales africaines souvent ignorées, minimisées ou mal représentées.
Nos articles et vidéos visent à ouvrir le débat, renforcer la sensibilisation, encourager la pensée critique et favoriser une réflexion plus profonde sur les réalités vécues par les populations africaines. Nous voulons aider les peuples de la région des Grands Lacs à mieux comprendre leurs droits, notamment leurs droits humains, leur droit au développement, leur droit à la dignité, à la sécurité, au bien-être et à une vie meilleure.
À travers nos contenus, nous cherchons également à rappeler aux décideurs, aux institutions publiques, aux acteurs régionaux et internationaux, ainsi qu’aux responsables politiques, leur devoir de transparence, de responsabilité et de redevabilité envers les populations qu’ils prétendent servir. Notre objectif est de contribuer à une culture de vérité, de justice, de participation citoyenne et de protection égale pour tous les peuples africains.
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Many abuses facing African people are committed by African states, ruling elites, armed groups, military forces and security services. But these abuses are often sustained by international silence, Western lobbying, trade interests, migration deals, mineral access, diplomatic partnerships and unequal global accountability.
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Why Africa Realities Media Is Different
Africa Realities Media speaks to Africa and to the developed world. Many abuses facing African people are committed by African states and ruling elites, but they are often protected by international silence, lobbying, public relations, trade interests, migration deals and unequal global accountability. While governments pay lobbyists to present a good image abroad, ordinary African people continue to face violence, hunger, disease, poverty, repression and exclusion. We challenge the normalisation of African suffering and demand equal truth, equal justice and equal protection.
Pourquoi Africa Realities Media est différent?
Africa Realities Media s’adresse à l’Afrique et au monde développé. De nombreux abus subis par les peuples africains sont commis par des États africains et des élites dirigeantes, mais ils sont souvent protégés par le silence international, le lobbying, les relations publiques, les intérêts commerciaux, les accords migratoires et une responsabilité mondiale inégale. Tandis que des gouvernements paient des lobbyistes pour présenter une bonne image à l’étranger, des Africains ordinaires continuent de faire face à la violence, à la faim, aux maladies, à la pauvreté, à la répression et à l’exclusion. Nous contestons la normalisation de la souffrance africaine et exigeons une vérité égale, une justice égale et une protection égale.
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Our work is designed to trigger debate, discomfort and action. We do not only expose injustice; we work for policy and systems change.
We want governments and institutions to address the root causes of inequality, disadvantage, discrimination, exclusion and barriers affecting African people. We believe lasting change must be shaped by people with lived experience.
Exposing Injustice in Africa
Africa Realities Media is an independent African accountability platform based in London. We report, analyse and challenge the systems that shape African suffering, silence African victims and protect abusive power.
We are not here to repeat diplomatic language. We are here to ask the questions that are often avoided: why are African deaths treated as normal? Why are African victims given less urgency? Why are governments that imprison, exclude, displace or kill their own people protected when they serve powerful international interests?
Africa Realities Media gives space to writers, researchers, experts, activists, community voices, campaigners, analysts and people with lived experience who want to contribute thoughtful, responsible and courageous content about the changes needed in the region, as well as the political, economic, cultural and social African realities that are often ignored, minimised or misrepresented.
Our articles and videos aim to encourage debate, raise awareness, stimulate critical thinking and support reflection. We seek to help people in the Great Lakes Region understand their rights to human rights, development and wellbeing, while also encouraging decision-makers to be more transparent, responsive and accountable.
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