[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    AFRICAN CONFLICT RESOLUTION ACT

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of calendar No. 694, S. 2475, a bill to 
promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa; that the bill 
be deemed read the third time, passed the motion to reconsider laid on 
the table, and any statements thereon appear in the Record at the 
appropriate place as though read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (S. 2475) was deemed read the third time, and passed, as 
follows:

                                S. 2475

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``African Conflict Resolution 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) It is in the national interest of the United States to 
     help build African capability in conflict resolution. A 
     relatively small investment of assistance in promoting 
     African conflict resolution--
       (A) would reduce the enormous human suffering which is 
     caused by wars in Africa;
       (B) would help the United States avoid huge future 
     expenditures necessitated by Somalia-like humanitarian 
     disasters; and
       (C) would reduce the need for United Nations intervention 
     as African institutions develop the ability to resolve 
     African conflicts.
       (2) Africa, to a greater extent than any other continent, 
     is afflicted by war. Africa has been marred by more than 20 
     major civil wars since 1960. Rwanda, Somalia, Angola, Sudan, 
     Liberia, and Burundi are among those countries that have 
     recently suffered serious armed conflict.
       (3) In the last decade alone, between 2,000,000 and 
     4,000,000 Africans have died because of war. There were 
     5,200,000 refugees and 13,100,000 displaced people in Africa 
     in 1993.
       (4) Millions more Africans are currently at risk of war-
     related death. Looming or ongoing conflicts in Zaire, Angola, 
     Sudan, Rwanda, and other countries threaten Africa's future.
       (5) War has caused untold economic and social damage to the 
     countries of Africa. Food production is impossible in 
     conflict areas, and famine often results. Widespread conflict 
     has condemned many of Africa's children to lives of misery 
     and, in certain cases, has threatened the existence of 
     traditional African cultures.
       (6) Conflict and instability in Africa, particularly in 
     large, potentially rich countries such as Angola, Sudan, and 
     Zaire, deprive the global economy of resources and 
     opportunities for trade and investment. Peace in these 
     countries could make a significant contribution to global 
     economic growth, while creating new opportunities for United 
     States businesses.
       (7) Excessive military expenditures threaten political and 
     economic stability in Africa while diverting scarce resources 
     from development needs. Demobilization and other measures to 
     reduce the size of African armies, and civilian control of 
     the military under the rule of law are in the interest of 
     international security and economic development.
       (8) Conflict prevention, mediation, and demobilization are 
     prerequisites to the success of development assistance 
     programs. Nutrition and education programs, for example, 
     cannot succeed in a nation at war. Billions of dollars of 
     development assistance have been virtually wasted in war-
     ravaged countries such as Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan.
       (9) Africans have a long tradition of informal mediation. 
     This tradition should be built upon to create effective 
     institutions through which Africans can resolve African 
     conflicts.
       (10) The effectiveness of U.S. support for conflict 
     resolution programs requires coordination and collaboration 
     with multilateral institutions and other bilateral donors.
       (11) African institutions are playing an active role in 
     conflict resolution and mediation utilizing the experience of 
     elder statesmen. Groups such as the All African Council of 
     Churches have assisted in defusing conflicts. The Economic 
     Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sought to 
     address the conflict in Liberia by deploying an African 
     peacekeeping force. The Southern African states have been 
     working to prevent a crisis in Lesotho. The Intergovernmental 
     Authority on Desertification and Drought (IGADD) has been 
     engaged in attempting to resolve the conflict in Sudan.
       (12) The Organization of African Unity, under the 
     leadership of Secretary General Salim Salim, has established 
     a conflict resolution mechanism and has been active in 
     mediation and conflict resolution in several African 
     countries.
       (b) United States Policy.--The Congress declares, 
     therefore, that a key goal for United States foreign policy 
     should be to help institutionalize conflict resolution 
     capability in Africa.

     SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF THE 
                   ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--The President is 
     authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict 
     resolution capability of the Organization of African Unity, 
     as follows:
       (1) Funds may be provided to the Organization of African 
     Unity for use in supporting its conflict resolution 
     capability, including providing technical assistance.
       (2) Funds may be used for expenses of sending individuals 
     with expertise in conflict resolution to work with the 
     Organization of African Unity.
       (b) Funding.--Of the foreign assistance funds that are 
     allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, not less than $1,500,000 
     for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998 should be used 
     to carry out subsection (a).

     SEC. 4. IMPROVING CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF 
                   MULTILATERAL SUBREGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN 
                   AFRICA.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--The President is 
     authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict 
     resolution capabilities of subregional organizations 
     established by countries in sub-Saharan Africa, as follows:
       (1) Funds may be provided to such organizations for use in 
     supporting their conflict resolution capability, including 
     providing technical assistance.
       (2) Funds may be used for the expenses of sending 
     individuals with expertise in conflict resolution to work 
     with such organizations.
       (b) Funding.--Of the foreign assistance funds that are 
     allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998 may 
     be used to carry out subsection (a).

     SEC. 5. IMPROVING CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF NON-
                   GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--The President is 
     authorized to provide assistance to nongovernmental 
     organizations that are engaged in mediation and 
     reconciliation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (b) Funding.--Of the foreign assistance funds that are 
     allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 and 1996 should 
     be used to carry out subsection (a).

     SEC. 6. AFRICAN DEMOBILIZATION AND RETRAINING PROGRAM.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--In order to facilitate 
     reductions in the size of the armed forces of countries of 
     sub-Saharan Africa, the President is authorized to--
       (1) provide assistance for the encampment and related 
     activities for the purpose of demobilization of such forces; 
     and
       (2) provide assistance for the reintegration of demobilized 
     military personnel into civilian society through activities 
     such as retraining for civilian occupations, creation of 
     income-generating opportunities, their reintegration into 
     agricultural activities, and the transportation to the home 
     areas of such personnel.
       (b) Funding.--Of the foreign assistance funds that are 
     allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, $25,000,000 for each of the 
     fiscal years 1995 and 1996 should be used for the assistance 
     described in subsection (a), if conditions permit.
       (c) Civilian Involvement.--The President is also authorized 
     to promote civilian involvement in the planning and 
     organization of demobilization and reintegration activities.

     SEC. 7. TRAINING FOR AFRICANS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND 
                   PEACEKEEPING.

       (a) Authorization.--The President is authorized to 
     establish a program to provide education and training in 
     conflict resolution and peacekeeping for civilian and 
     military personnel of countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (b) Funding.--Of the funds made available under chapter 5 
     of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, such sums 
     as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 and 
     1996 should be used for the purposes of subsection (a).

     SEC. 8. PLAN FOR UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR CONFLICT 
                   RESOLUTION AND DEMOBILIZATION IN SUB-SAHARAN 
                   AFRICA.

       (a) In General.--Pursuant to the provisions of sections 3 
     through 7, the President should develop an integrated long-
     term plan, which incorporates local perspectives, to provide 
     support for the enhancement of conflict resolution 
     capabilities and demobilization activities in sub-Saharan 
     Africa.
       (b) Contents of Plan.--Such plan should include:
       (1) The type, purpose, amount, and duration of assistance 
     that is planned to be provided to conflict resolution units 
     in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (2) The type and amount of assistance that is planned to be 
     provided for the demobilization of military personnel of 
     countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including--
       (A) a list of which countries will receive such assistance 
     and an explanation of why such countries were chosen for such 
     assistance; and
       (B) a list of other countries and international 
     organizations that are providing assistance for such 
     demobilization.
       (3) The type and amount of assistance that is planned to be 
     provided to nongovernmental organizations that are engaged in 
     mediation and reconciliation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (4) A description of proposed training programs for 
     Africans in conflict resolution and peacekeeping under 
     section 7, including a list of prospective participants and 
     plans to expand such programs.
       (5) The mechanisms to be used to coordinate interagency 
     efforts to administer the plan.
       (6) Efforts to seek the participation of other countries 
     and international organizations to achieve the objectives of 
     the plan.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report containing a 
     description of the plan developed under this section.

     SEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

       (a) Requirement.--The President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report describing the 
     efforts and progress made in carrying out the provisions of 
     this Act.
       (b) Date of Submission.--The first report submitted under 
     subsection (a) shall be submitted no latter than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall be 
     submitted annually thereafter.

     SEC. 10. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.

       The President shall consult with the appropriate 
     congressional committees prior to providing assistance under 
     sections 3 through 7.

     SEC. 11. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

       For purposes of this Act, the term ``appropriate 
     congressional committees'' means the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
     the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

                          ____________________