ASSISTANT SECRETARY THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Thank you Chairman Flake,
Ranking Member Cardin, and other Members of the Committee
for the opportunity to testify today on the many challenges and
opportunities facing countries in the Central African Region. I'm pleased to be
here with my friend and colleague Tom Perriello, the Secretary's Special Envoy
for the Great Lakes Region. Tom just returned from his most recent trip
in the region and will provide more details on key aspects of our policy
approach in the region and his own ceaseless efforts in that area. Also we
were both in Addis Ababa at the African Union last week where we engage with
partners on key issues in the region. Though it's extremely challenging the
administration continues to prioritize efforts to strengthen democratic
institutions, spur economic growth and advance peace and security and promote
opportunity and development in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda,
Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo. We are deeply
concerned with the ongoing political crisis in Burundi during the AU Summit
and were disappointed that the AU's Peace and Security Council determined that it
was premature to deploy the African prevention and protection mission
to Burundi. The entire AU assembly of Heads of State later decided,
and we were very happy with that decision, to send a delegation of five
African heads of state to Bujumbura to urgently press President Nkurunziza for
an inclusive dialogue. The delegation's mandate will include consultations with
the government of Burundi under deployment of the African Union
prevention and protection mission. In December we decided two pro-government
and two opposition individuals to our Burundi -- we decided to add to our
opposition and to government individuals to Burundi sanctions list, bringing the
total number of eight individuals who have been sanctioned for engaging in
actions that threaten the peace, security, and stability of the country. And we're
prepared to add more as appropriate. In January of AGOA trade benefits were
withdrawn from Burundi due to continued violence and we continue to support
critical health services to protect
the most vulnerable populations and provide assistance to promote
reconciliation and dialogue among the youth.
Before turning to our concerns about the current political and security situation in
Democratic Republic of Congo, I want to update you on the adoption crisis
that is affecting many of your constituents.
We have seen some movement. The DRC Council of Ministers recently
approved and submitted the long awaited draft adoption legislation to their
parliament and committed to reconstitute in the inter-ministerial commission to
review the remaining cases. Now I have to say we've been down this road before and
we will not be satisfied until these commitments are fulfilled and at every
opportunity we raise this with our colleagues in the democratic government
of Congo. And I want to assure you and your constituents who anxiously await to
bring their children home that this issue remains a priority for the
Department at the highest levels. We're deeply concerned by the growing
political crisis in DRC. President Kabila's final term in office ends in
December per that country's constitution. Efforts by President
Kabila's Parliamentary Alliance to amend the constitution or guarantee electoral
delay have been vigorously resisted by the opposition as well as by permanent
civil society organization. Special Envoy Perriello will go into more detail on
our analysis and on our approach to the situation, but it's our assessment that a
choice by President Kabila to honor the Congolese constitution and the wishes of
the Congolese people to hold free, fair, transparent, and inclusive elections but
President Kabila gracefully transitioning power has the greatest
hope for building on the legacy of economic and social progress that he's
made during his tenure in office.
In Rwanda were deeply disappointed that
President Kagame missed an opportunity to set a historic example and
provide leadership to set its own country on a firm foundation
of strong democratic institutions
that can sustain the economic development that country.
It will be critical for Rwanda's government
to allow even and even to encourage a free and
unfettered expression of dissent and peaceful opposition particularly in the
run-up to local elections in 2016, presidential elections in 2017, and
parliamentary elections in 2018.
We're also concerned in Rwanda of credible reports
that recruitment of Iranian refugees may it have occurred in the
past year in the camps in Rwanda. It is essential that Rwanda play a
constructive role in addressing regional conflicts and we welcome the public and
the private commitment to support a political, and not military, solution to
the crisis in Burundi. We will continue to closely monitor developments in that
area. In the Central African Republic, December 30th first round of
presidential elections were peaceful with a reported seventy-nine percent
voter turnout. That was extraordinary for this country.
and this hints at a brighter future after three years of gross
insecurity, conflict, and political transition. Due to evidence of
irregularities, the CAR Constitutional Court anulled parliamentary election
and as a result a new round of parliamentary elections and a second
round of presidential elections are scheduled to take place on the 14th of
February. The United States wholeheartedly support the people of CAR
in their pursuit of a peaceful and transparent transition. And we're
watching closely the two leading presidential candidates as well as the
losing presidential candidates who failed to make it beyond the first round to
ensure that they continue to support a peaceful process, the people of Central
African Republic deserve that. Republic of Congo - our bilateral relations are
generally cordial but have been tested in recent months over the issue of
presidential term limits and repression of legitimate political opposition. While
President Nguesso has not formally declared his candidacy, it is expected
that he will run in the scheduled March 20 elections.
We are disturbed by the arbitrary arrest of dozens of opposition supporters since
October and opposition leaders who have been subject to harassment and
disappointment. Just yesterday we were shocked and even appalled by the brutal
attack on retired general Mokoko who recently declared his candidacy for
president and his supporters were subject to those attacks as well. I know
that this is not the face that the Congolese people want to project to the
world. We will continue to urge the government to respect the provisions of
its new constitution that guarantees the freedoms of expression and peaceful
assembly and hold those accountable for the attacks that occurred yesterday. We
are monitoring the run-up to the February 18th Uganda national
elections report of the police using excessive force obstruction and
dispersal of some opposition rallies. Harassment of journalists contribute to
a climate of fear and intimidation. It is important to underscore the need for all
candidates and their campaigns to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric that
could incite violence. Chairman Flake Ranking Member Cardin,
and Members of the Committee, let me thank you again for giving me
the opportunity to discuss our extensive engagement in the region.
We will continue our proactive diplomatic
efforts and coordinate with members of the international community
to help address the issues facing the Central African region.
I hope this information that I provided to the committee is helpful.
I have submitted a longer version of my testimony in writing
for the record and I will look forward to your questions