[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 16 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 16

  Calling for a peaceful transition to stability and democracy in the 
                   Democratic Republic of the Congo.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 30, 2001

Mr. Hastings of Florida submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
     which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Calling for a peaceful transition to stability and democracy in the 
                   Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Whereas on January 16, 2001, President Laurent Kabila of the Democratic Republic 
        of the Congo was assassinated, and this event jeopardizes the peace, 
        security, and stability of central Africa;
Whereas Congo is home to approximately 50,000,000 people;
Whereas since 1994, Congo has been plagued by ethnic strife and civil war 
        touched off by a massive inflow of refugees fleeing the fighting in 
        Rwanda and Burundi;
Whereas in May 1997, Laurent Kabila toppled Africa's most durable dictator, 
        Mobutu Sese Seko, and declared himself President of the nation that is 
        now Congo;
Whereas in 1997, following President Laurent Kabila's assumption of leadership, 
        Congo showed bright prospects for democracy, peace, stability, and 
        economic development;
Whereas approximately 1 year later, President Laurent Kabila found himself the 
        target of a new insurrection backed by external forces;
Whereas in June 2000, the International Rescue Committee concluded that 
        approximately 1,700,000 people in the eastern region of Congo had 
        perished as a result of the conflict;
Whereas the conflict has impoverished the Congolese, caused great suffering to 
        innocent civilians, including children, and displaced millions of people 
        within Congo and pushed many more into neighboring countries;
Whereas economic mismanagement has made everyday life for the Congolese the 
        hardest ever endured in their history;
Whereas the Lusaka Peace Accord, entered into in 1999 among Congo, Angola, 
        Zimbabwe, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and 3 major rebel groups, called for 
        a cease fire, a political dialogue, and the deployment of United Nations 
        peace keepers;
Whereas President Laurent Kabila and all parties to the accord ignored and 
        violated its provisions;
Whereas President Laurent Kabila blocked the United Nations from even beginning 
        the process of deploying troops in Congo; and
Whereas the conflict in Congo continues: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes and commends those people of the Democratic 
        Republic of the Congo (commonly referred to as ``Congo'') who 
        have demonstrated their love of peace, law, and order;
            (2) condemns the assassination of Congolese President 
        Laurent Kabila;
            (3) urges each party to the Lusaka Peace Accord--
                    (A) to observe a cease-fire;
                    (B) to refrain from exploiting to its own advantage 
                the assassination of President Laurent Kabila;
                    (C) to cooperate in the successful economic 
                reconstruction of Congo; and
                    (D) to abide by the terms of the accord and 
                solidify a transitional process that will lead to peace 
                and democracy for the Congolese, who have endured 
                brutal dictatorships for so long;
            (4) affirms that the Lusaka Peace Accord is the most viable 
        means for achieving peace and stability in Congo;
            (5) calls on the United Nations to continue the cooperative 
        process of working with Belgium, France, and other nations in 
        applying diplomatic pressures necessary for democratic change 
        in Congo;
            (6) urges Rwanda, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, and all other 
        governments involved in the Congolese conflict to rise above 
        their national concerns and act in the interest of all the 
        people of Africa;
            (7) urges the President and the international community--
                    (A) to continue to monitor violence in Congo and 
                condemn brutality against law abiding citizens; and
                    (B) to work with the Government of Congo and devise 
                strategies for an equitable and viable resolution to 
                all of that nation's internal conflicts; and
            (8) recommends that the President encourage the United 
        Nations Security Council to consider all options to stabilize 
        the situation in Congo.
                                 <all>