[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 37 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2727-S2728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO AFRICA: AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR U.S. NATIONAL 
                               INTERESTS

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the 
President's current trip to Africa and the importance of Africa to 
United States national interests. I highly applaud the President's 
decision to go to Africa. The President's trip to Ghana, Botswana, 
South Africa, Uganda, Senegal and Rwanda comes on the heels of visits 
to the region last year by both the First Lady and the Secretary of 
State. This marks only the second time that an American President has 
undertaken an official trip to sub-Saharan Africa, and the first visit 
to any of the countries on the President's itinerary. As we have seen 
by the warm reception that the President has enjoyed so far, this first 
visit in 20 years by an American President carries considerable 
symbolic significance for the 650 million people in Africa. For the 270 
million people of America, the President's visit will help further 
strengthen U.S.-Africa relations and promote important national 
interests.
  President Clinton's trip highlights a very different Africa from the 
one President Carter saw during the first Presidential visit in 1978. 
At that time, Washington largely viewed Africa as merely another 
battleground for U.S.-Soviet Cold War competition. Today, in many parts 
of the region nations are working to reform politically and 
economically. More elections have occurred at all levels of government 
in the last five years than in the last two decades. The traditional 
image of African states controlled by dictatorial strongmen is giving 
way to multiparty political systems with an increasing appreciation for 
democratic institutions and processes. And economically, many African 
countries have rejected the failed policies of central planning in 
favor of privatization of state assets and the creation of free 
markets.
  Mr. President, the image that we often see of Africa in the media 
largely is one of famine, instability, and ethnic conflict. The purpose 
of the President's trip is to refocus the international spotlight to 
include the emerging economic and political renaissance that is 
occurring in some countries. I applaud President Clinton's recognition 
of the importance of including Rwanda in his itinerary. In contrast to 
the relatively positive outlook for the other countries on the 
President's itinerary, the outlook for Rwanda is not so clear and 
bright. Rwanda is still reeling from the aftershocks of the brutal 1994 
genocide that resulted in the deaths of upwards of 800,000 men, women 
and children. For the last two years, more than 120,000 accused 
genocidaires have waited in prison for a trial. The country remains 
under insurgent attack by the 1994 genocidaires who are now based in 
neighboring Congo.
  Rwanda is still waiting for justice. Rwanda--and the rest of Central 
Africa--will not be able to move forward until there is justice for the 
victims of genocide. Justice is the critical factor that will either 
allow that country to move forward, or see it fall backwards into 
bloodshed. I support the President's proposed Great Lakes Justice 
Initiative to assist the states of the region to strengthen judicial 
systems and the rule of law. I also urge the Administration to continue 
its efforts to ensure the effectiveness of the International War Crimes 
Tribunal for Rwanda. The Tribunal was established over three years ago 
to bring to justice leaders of the 1994 genocide. To date, however, 
only 35 persons have been indicted and the Tribunal has yet to hand 
down its first sentence. By contrast, the Yugoslav Tribunal already has 
cases in the appeal stage. The Tribunal s effective and efficient 
functioning will be key to allowing the Rwandan justice system the 
political and legal flexibility it needs to deal with the 120,000 men 
in prison.
  Mr. President, Rwanda is not the only troubled African nation. Some 
nations, such as Liberia, the Central African Republic, and Angola, are 
at critical crossroads and will make decisions that will have a 
significant impact on their political and economic futures. Others, 
such as Nigeria, Sudan and Cameroon, have resisted the tide of 
political openness and economic reform that is sweeping through their 
neighbors and have remained repressive. As the President continues 
current efforts in Africa and undertakes new initiatives, it is 
critical that the United States strongly and clearly encourages those 
countries at the crossroads to choose the right road. At the same time, 
we should be unambiguous in our non-acceptance of those countries that 
continue to choose political repression and failed economic policies.
  One of the most critical tests that United States foreign policy 
currently faces in Africa is the Democratic Republic of Congo. An 
enormous country the size of the United States east of the Mississippi 
River, the Congo is strategically located in the heart of Africa. 
Bordered by nine different countries, it is at once a Southern and 
Central African state. Blessed with natural and human resources, this 
country for the last thirty years has been cursed with poor leadership 
and financial ruin. The term kleptocracy was coined for the despotic 
rule of former President Mobutu Sese Seko which saw billions of dollars 
of foreign assistance misappropriated and the national coffers drained.
  Foreign Relations Committee staff members who traveled to Congo last 
month saw a country in crisis. Critical infrastructure such as health 
and transportation are in disarray. There is no justice system to speak 
of. Human rights conditions are, in the words of one international 
human rights worker, catastrophic. The Congolese President, Laurent 
Kabila, a guerilla opposed to the former government for most of his 
adult life, has no relevant experience governing a country. The same is 
true for most of his cabinet. Perhaps the only positive news to report 
is that the security situation is relatively calmer for the moment than 
it has been in recent years. As discouraging a picture as this might 
be, recent Central African history has shown that

[[Page S2728]]

Congo's future disposition will have a significant impact on its 
neighbors with potential consequences for much of Africa--and United 
States national interests.
  Mr. President, some might wonder whether the United States has any 
interests in Africa. Since the end of the Cold War, there are those who 
have argued that the United States should cut back on its engagements 
abroad. In regards to Africa, they argue that we should focus on 
regions of greater geopolitical and economic importance. Let me state 
clearly my belief that without a doubt the United States needs to be 
actively engaged in Africa.
  Why? Because just as we support democracy, free trade and human 
rights in the rest of the world, so too should we continue to support 
these goals in Africa. Moreover, the United States has strong economic 
interests in Africa. U.S. exports to Africa last year totaled $6.2 
billion, more than total U.S. exports to all of the states of the 
former Soviet Union combined. Since 1994, U.S. trade with sub-Saharan 
Africa has grown on average at 16.9% annually, outpacing growth in 
global trade in 1995 and 1996. Through our engagement with Africa we 
support and encourage partners who cherish the same values that we do. 
By encouraging political and economic stability we contribute to the 
preservation of our own nation s continued prosperity and security.
  Mr. President, some among us may be disillusioned into believing that 
our interests in Africa are purely humanitarian, that Africa doesn t 
hold any strategic value for the United States. When I hear statements 
to this effect, I have to wonder whether they are living in the same 
world as the rest of us. As we have seen with the recent Asian 
financial crisis, global drug trade, and even the El Nino weather 
phenomenon, Americans today are more interconnected, if not 
interdependent, with the rest of the world than at any previous time in 
our nation's history. At this unique point in time as the sole 
superpower with the ability virtually to reach around the globe, the 
rest of the world has an equally unprecedented ability to touch us 
back. In such a global environment it is vital to our nation's security 
that we exercise vigilance in the conduct of our foreign relations.
  Mr. President, even if we could stick our head in the sand, the rest 
of our body would be exposed to all of the negative consequences that a 
neglected Africa would incur. Imagine the effects of a large region of 
the world ignored and not encouraged to develop effective health 
systems, where new exotic diseases are not checked but given free reign 
to develop and old ones can develop drug resistance. The Asian bird flu 
would be nothing compared to what we might see. Imagine nations with 
minimal resources but great needs not supported to effectively maintain 
their natural environment, and compelled to compromise rainforests and 
natural ecosystems vital to our planet's well-being. If we think El 
Nino is bad, just wait until we meet his big brother.
  Mr. President, we wouldn't allow this to occur in any other part of 
the world, and we certainly can not afford to allow this to happen in 
Africa. Protecting American interests in Africa is no simple task. The 
subtleties and complexities that confront us in the 48 nations of sub-
Saharan Africa require diplomatic skill and finesse. How does Rwanda 
move to democracy whilst Hutus vastly outnumber Tutsis, and distrust 
and violence on both sides goes back generations? How do ethnic 
communities in Kenya share power in such a way that the rights of the 
minority are protected? How does the Congo move towards democratic 
governance and financial responsibility after a generation of 
misgovernment and kleptocracy?
  There are no easy solutions to any of these questions, but the 
answers must be found if Africa is to advance politically and 
economically--and U.S. national interests are to be protected--into the 
next century.

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