Coalition Sign-On for Appointment of New Special Envoy for Great Lakes Region and DRC

Today, 23 organizations and individuals who both work in and advocate for stability, peace, and prosperity in the DRC and the entire Great Lakes Region of Africa signed a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry asking him to appoint a new, high-level Special Envoy to continue the great work of Senator Feingold and seize advantage of the momentum that has been generated through U.S. engagement in this region of the world.

By the undersigned

3March 2015

Dear Secretary Kerry:

We write to highlight the urgent and critical importance of appointing another prominent, high-level Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since the appointment of Senator Russell Feingold as Special Envoy less than two years ago, the United States (U.S.) has played an increasingly central role in addressing one of the most enduring and serious humanitarian and human rights crises in the world in the DRC. The United States’ engagement was critical to the effective removal of the rebel group M23, elevating accountability as an essential element of a durable peace, and taking the lead in calling for timely and transparent democratic elections.

Much, however, remains to be done. We are pleased to hear that the Administration plans to appoint a successor to Senator Feingold. We believe a dynamic, high-profile, well-resourced US Special Envoy reporting directly to the Secretary of State, and working with the DRC and other regional governments, is critical to addressing the challenges in Congo and promoting wider stability in the Great Lakes region.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 2.7 million people remain displaced in Congo. Thousands of civilians have been killed in massacres, and women and girls have suffered horrific levels or rape and sexual violence. Around fifty armed groups continue to threaten and terrorize the populations in eastern Congo, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). DRC’s national demobilization program, which was tailored to disarm, demobilize, rehabilitate, and reintegrate these armed groups, has been stalled for the past 14 months. While the Congolese government is gradually restoring its presence in parts of eastern Congo, exploitation and abuse by both state actors and armed groups are widespread. Furthermore, a poorly regulated trade in minerals -- a trade that links the Congo to consumers in the United States -- allows armed groups to extort funds and abuse civilians.

Congo is heading into a period of great uncertainty. While the Independent National Electoral Commission has now set the timetable for national elections, it remains unclear if President Kabila will step down after the completion of his second term, as is stipulated by the