[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18850]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 11, 2014

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, 2015 will be an important year for the future 
of African democracy. Many countries on the continent will either hold 
or prepare for Presidential elections. If recent history is any guide, 
some long-serving African leaders will be tempted to alter 
constitutions or take other quasi-legal steps to extend their rule. I 
strongly encourage these leaders, including President Sassou-Nguesso of 
Congo-Brazzaville, to resist this temptation and to respect the will of 
their people.
  Congo-Brazzaville has enormous natural resource wealth, including 
oil, minerals and timber. In 2014, the nation's GDP will be an 
estimated $12.9 billion. It has also received nearly $2 billion in debt 
relief since 2010. However, it is ranked 142 out of 186 on the U.N. 
Human Development Index--in other words, human development is low. 
Political opposition is repressed, so discussion about governance and 
how to improve and deliver broader economic growth is limited.
  In 2016, when it is time for the people of Congo-Brazzaville to go to 
the polls and elect a President, they deserve the chance to choose a 
new leader who will endeavor to deliver equitable growth to their 
country. According to the constitution, that should be their right--
President Nguesso's two 7-year terms will have expired. However, there 
are indications that he is considering amending that constitution so he 
is eligible to run again, further extending his 30-year long rule.
  The events in Burkina Faso earlier this fall should give pause to any 
leader considering constitutional changes that would allow them to 
extend their rule. President Nguesso should allow the voters of Congo-
Brazzaville to select a new leader and engage in real democracy--a 
process that involves a peaceful change in government.
  Let 2015 be a year filled with peace and prosperity for the Congolese 
people. Let a legitimate, democratic transfer of power be the legacy of 
President Sassou-Nguesso. Let his actions serve as a model and 
inspiration for other leaders in the region. And let democracy and the 
rule of law prosper in sub-Saharan Africa.

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