[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8610-S8611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 112--CONCERNING THE RECENT HOSTILITIES IN THE 
                           REPUBLIC OF CONGO

  Mr. ASHCROFT (for himself and Mr. Feingold) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                              S. Res. 112

       Whereas the Republic of Congo began to take significant 
     steps after 1989 to implement a democratic form of 
     government, including the convening of a national conference 
     in 1991 and the adoption of a multiparty constitution in 
     1992;
       Whereas the Republic of Congo held its first free and fair 
     democratic elections in 1992, in which Pascal Lissouba won 
     the presidency with 61 percent of the vote, defeating the 
     former military ruler Denis Sassou-Nguesso in the first round 
     of voting and current Brazzaville Mayor Bernard Kolelas in 
     the second;
       Whereas the Republic of Congo has endured violent threats 
     to its nascent democracy since 1993, including factional 
     fighting between the country's leading political figures 
     which has taken thousands of lives;
       Whereas fighting in the Republic of Congo is preventing the 
     country from holding its scheduled elections and has 
     endangered the lives of its citizens and foreign nationals 
     residing in the country; and
       Whereas the preservation of democracy in the Republic of 
     Congo and the peaceful transfer of power through national 
     elections are critically important for the future of freedom 
     in the Republic of Congo and all of Central Africa: Now, 
     therefore, be it
         Resolved, That the Senate of the United States--
         (1) condemns violent attempts to overthrow the freely 
     elected Government of the Republic of Congo and encourages 
     all parties involved in the conflict to reach a lasting 
     cease-fire;
         (2) calls on all private militia to disband to end the 
     continuing threat to peace and stability in the Republic of 
     Congo;
         (3) reaffirms its support for constitutional government, 
     the rule of law, human rights, and democratic processes in 
     the Republic of Congo and calls upon regional African leaders 
     to support the preservation of a democratic political system 
     in the country;
         (4) declares that the removal of the democratically 
     elected Government of the Republic of Congo by other than 
     democratic means would severely restrict the bilateral 
     relationship between the United States and the Republic of 
     Congo, including the suspension of most bilateral assistance 
     from the United States to the Republic of Congo; and
         (5) encourages the United States Government to state 
     publicly its strong support for a democratic government in 
     the Republic of Congo and the peaceful transfer of power in 
     that country.

  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk 
concerning recent fighting in the Republic of Congo. Senator Feingold 
is joining me as an original cosponsor of this resolution, and I 
greatly appreciate his support in this effort and his help as the 
Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Foreign 
Relations Committee.
  The Republic of Congo--not to be confused with the neighboring 
Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire--has been 
embroiled in domestic unrest since early June when hostilities erupted 
between the forces of the former military dictator Denis Sassou-Nguesso 
and troops loyal to the current Congolese leader, President Pascal 
Lissouba.
  President Lissouba defeated Sassou in national elections in 1992. 
Recent hostilities between the two leaders pose a threat to the nascent 
democracy that the Republic of Congo has tried to cultivate over the 
last 5 years.
  The Republic of Congo has made significant steps to embrace democracy 
since the late 1980's. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 
people of the Republic of Congo pressed for democratic change in their 
own country. Their struggle against political repression was rewarded 
with the convening of a national conference in 1991 and the adoption of 
a multiparty constitution in 1992.
  The first free national elections were held in 1992. Since that time 
the Congolese people have endured violent

[[Page S8611]]

 threats to their emerging democracy. Indeed, factional infighting 
between rival political groups has taken the lives of several thousand 
people since 1993.
  The most recent outbreak of fighting poses yet another challenge to 
the people of the Republic of Congo and the liberty they desire for 
their country. Thankfully, a ceasefire was signed by the warring 
parties over the weekend of July 12-13, and representatives of 
President Lissouba and Sassou-Nguesso have been in Libreville, Gabon 
attempting to negotiate a peace agreement.
  It is my sincere hope that negotiations are constructive and that the 
Republic of Congo is able to move forward and hold elections previously 
scheduled for July 27, but now delayed indefinitely.
  We should make it clear to all parties involved in the conflict in 
the Republic of Congo that the United States condemns violent attempts 
to overthrow the democratically-elected government of the Republic of 
Congo. There is too much at stake in Central Africa right now for the 
United States to remain silent about instability which threatens the 
peaceful transfer of power in a country struggling to embrace 
democracy.
  United States foreign policy in Central Africa has failed miserably 
in restraining the forces of violence which have plagued Rwanda and 
Burundi, the former Zaire, and now the Republic of Congo. The Clinton 
administration must address more forcefully the chain of events in 
Central Africa before the region spirals out of control. A good place 
to start would be to speak out forcefully in support of democracy in 
the Republic of Congo and against the violence which threatens the 
country's stability.
  Mr. President, it is time to take a public stand in support of the 
fragile democracy in the Republic of Congo, which is why I am 
submitting this resolution today. I hope at the appropriate time my 
colleagues will vote to condemn the violence now threatening the 
prospects for constitutional government and the rule of law in the 
Republic of Congo.

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