Transcripts For CSPAN3 Political Situation In The Congo Part 1 20171127

An hour and 50 minutes. The hearing will come to order. Welcome. Im very i think the committee is privileged to see our distinguished careful joining us. Ed rice. Thank you for your ongoing leadership and for yesterdays important briefing with nikki haley, our ambassador to the United Nations, and important briefing in the afternoon was on the congo. Thank you chairman royce. The democratic republic of congo was supposed to conduct elections one year ago this month. In order to achieve the required transition by december 19th, after years of stalling on making preparations for elections, the government of the drc failed to hold elections last year. And relied on a constitutional provision that Joseph Kabilla could not step down until an election was held to select a replace. Both the chairman and i and others have had ongoing meetings with the officials, including high level people who have flown here to washington. Time and time again we have admonished them stick to the schedule and hold these elections. The interpretation of the constitution is an apparent contradiction to other constitutional provisions requiring elections to be held on time. And limiting the president to two terms. The Election Commission has Just Announced that elections cannot be held until late 2018. We were told by nikki haley, theyre talking about december 2018. How often have we seen those time lines slip . And then we would be in 2019, i think she made it very clear, in yesterdays briefing that there are an abundance of sanctions, that would hold over the heads of those who again would push to delay, i think thats very real, and i hope is very compelling pressure to ensure that they do exactly what they say they would do. This is what the people of the d. R. Congo want, they want a free and Fair Election, they want to choose their next leader. They want kabillas government to end and be replaced by a Transitional Government until a new within can be elected. We dont take sides, but we want free and fair, and we want to make sure the peoples will are prevailed. They have seen recent flairups. Back in 2005 i travelled to doma and we saw on the ground and met many of the people who had been raped, sexually abused. But we also, like with africa, compassion an organization that did wonderful work with helping to heal and mitigate the damages of such abuse saw that there were people on the ground that cared so much, they were going the extra mile to make sure that the fighting stopped and also that there would be a way forward for those who had been abused. In two of the regions, the conflicts caused a displacement of nearly 2 Million People since mid2016. This is in a country where a war that seemed to never end took the lives of some 4 Million People. We all focused as we should on darfur and the people who lost their lives there. The number of people who have lost their lives in congo eclipses that. Political unrest in urban centers. In the capital, by members of a religious secretary that has declared itself, has worsens the conflict. The murder of a lead er featurig atrocities and abuse of children. Meanwhile, the conflict saw violent activity by 2 million militia groups and an out of control National Army resulting in the systematic rape of 50 girls per hour. This hearing is intended to look at possible solutions that could lead to further finance and upheaval in a large african nation bordered benign neighbors. We understand there is no easy solution to the Current Crisis in drc. If president kabilla were convinced they would not be prosecuted for human rights abuses. However, that would reward them into plundering their countrys resources. A palace coup may take place. Kabillas father was assassinated in 2001. The elder kabilla had overthrown had himself overthrown an elected government in 1965, he was chased from power and fled into exile in 1997, a coup would not support international limits. And could lead to protracted in fighting and chaos. We want an orderly peaceful transition. Thats what the International Community is asking and demanding. The status quo is already leading to growing violence, it will not lead to a peaceful solution. The longer the transition is delayed. Its more likely violence could escalate and spill over into neighboring countries. As did in 96 and 98 to 2003. Over the past year, we have heard many promises by the government of the drc about when the elections would be held. The current government timetable calls for Voter Registration to extend to the point where elections couldnt be held until late 2018 that would mean joe sell kabilla would have an extra half term in office. We will hear from the state department on the stalemate and our governments programs on the ground. Our second panel consists of scholars and activists who will give us their informed inning sights as to how we can break this political stalemate and prevent more bloodshed in the drc. No solution will be easy or without cost, nonaction would have a higher cost in terms of human lives. That we must not tolerate. Kelly . Go to the chairman . Ill defer first to the Ranking Member. Thank you, mr. Chairman, and mr. Chairman . Appreciate that. Thank you for your leadership, for holding this hearing today, and i want to thank and welcome our distinguished witnesses today, you know what is so tragic is that we all know that drc is potentially one of the richest countries on earth. We know that it has an abundance of deposits of copper, gold, and many other rivers, the congo river is the second largest river in the world, and the most powerful in africa, which means the country has enormous potential to generate hydroelectric power. It could provide enough power for all sub is a haren electricity needs, on the other side of this, we know the stark reality of living in drc today. We know its one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 176 out of 187 on the latest Human Development index. More than half of the country lives in extreme poverty, and we know theres 3. 8 million intern ali displaced persons. And we also know that there are parts of the drc that are on the brink of hunger and famine. We shouldnt forget that in march of this year, all of the humanitarian efforts, we had two u. N. Investigators, and their congolese interpreter were found dead. They were there to investigate alleged large scale violence and alleged Human Rights Violations by the congolese army. We know with the worlds most complex humanitarian crisis, the drc has 7. 3 Million People in need of humanitarian assistance. But aide workers are fighting the deterioration in the drc. Many are unable to access areas in most need of humanitarian assistance. The signs coming out of the drc are not encouraging. The government and the main Opposition Coalition reached a political agreement to organize a vote by the end of 2013. And camilla committed to not run for a third term. Yesterday we met with our u. N. Ambassador who said the drc has announced they will hold president ial elections in december 2018. That seems a ridiculous time to wait thats just a way of extending it to another term. My concern is that even if it is genuine that there will be elections held in december of 2018, im not convinced that doesnt mean that kabila wont be on the ballot, until we hear definitively a public announcement that he will not seek a third term. And will not change the constitution, i believe if i heard the ambassador right, mr. Chairman, she did say that he said he wouldnt change the constitution, correct . I do not believe hes made the Public Statement that he will not be on the ballot. Which obviously if he was on the ballot, thats a violation of the con stir tugs, however, we all know that sometimes people find ways of saying theyre not violating the constitution. It was just a different interpretation. And the world will not tolerate that, i was encouraged by the ambassador yesterday, making very strong statements that the United States will not be there in support of the country unless we do see a commitment for a peaceful transition. With that i yield to the other chairman. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to thank you, i want to thank Ranking Member karen bass for the focus you have kept on the drc and the trips you have taken to the drc. The resolutions you have passed the effort to galvanize our effort on this tragedy, you talk about the millions who have lost their lives there, a lot of is a governance issue with respect to a lack of rule of law, that emen ats unfortunately, from lorent and then Joseph Kabilla. I want to thank greg here. Greg simmp kins for back in 1997, we were on a delegation from this committee, in neighboring angola, meeting with dos santos, trying to broker peace there. And, you know, that night the government of mobuttu was overthrough. We were there, and greg was our interpreter, luckily. We were able to take a plane into the airport of conchassa. We met with the new government, he was able to communicate with jessaketti, who was being pushed aside. We were able to track and follow kabilla in order too discuss this issue. The rule of law the constitution, the importance of elections, and we have struggled under the kabillas now, we have made three trips, i have with mr. Sheehy to konchassa. I have to give Ambassador Haley credit for not just the commitment she got in terms of the december 23rd election she got next year, but the benchmarks to be put in place and the announcement on the part of joseph kabila, that there will be that election. Now, it falls on us and the International Community. So this is really good news. We finally have an election calendar, i think we have to welcome not only the announcement, but the since of the people in congo, asserting their rights, to be part of this process, they felt the consequences. More than anyone. I think the state department, the administration, and us on the committee, we have to monitor this progress, if deemed insufficient, we must use every tool we have to pressure the government in congo, now is the time if we do not address the political instability, then the violence and unrest across that country which has cost over 4 million lives so far, is only going to escalate. As we watch people flee. When we see the 2 million that are displaced on our trips there, living in camps. We know that the humanitarian situation is dire. And we encourage the witnesss testimony today. Too many people are suffering. Chairman smith, i thank you for this hearing. Dan donovan. Since im not a chairman oar a Ranking Member, i learned so much more by listening than speaking, i just learned how long greg has been here by listening to jim, im going to yield my time so that secretarial secretary yamamoto and the administrator can have more time. Two distinguished ambassadors, beginning with yamamoto. He has served as Deputy Assistant secretary of state from 0320 06. Ambassador yamamoto was our ambassador for the republic of djibouti. Without objection your full resume will be made part of the record. Miss anderson has more than 20 years of development experience, mostly in africa, as a Foreign Service officer. Shes worked in usaid missions. In the congo, sudan. She worked as a program manager, at health link world wide, and served as a peace corps volunteer in ghana. Welcome back, and we look fword to your insights and recommendations. The floor is yours. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman, i asked for the longer version to be submitted. Without objection. Thank you very much chairman smith and chairman royce. Thank you very much for this important hearing today. Todays hearing comes at a critical juncture for the drc, and the country faces two starkly different possible trajectories over the next 12 months. Will we see free and Fair Elections in the current political impasse. We can see the drc return to widespread violence and instability. Free and Fair Elections that are credible and inclusive and lead to a democratic transfer of power. With the november 5th announcement of the elections, the elections will be held in 2018, we have an opportunity to support the congolese people. This will require political will on behalf of the government of the drc. Organize credible elections, commitment by the oppositions to participate through the democratic process, and continue to engagement, pressure and support on the International Community including the United States. Ambassador haleys october visit to the drc sent a clear powerful message to president kabila and his government that further delays an unrealistic calendar would be unacceptable. He told Party Leaders that the United States does not support calls for uncon sti fusional change and stressed the need for all actors to work within the framework of the drc constitution, and the december 2016 agreement. The administration is building on the momentum provided by Ambassador Haleys visit in the light of this announced electoral calendar, to push all parties in the drc to advance the electoral process, theyre as much at risk due to the drcs vast size, location and strategic location. Including Nine International borders. Continued delays by the government has increased tensions, undermined already weak or in some regions of the country nonexistent state authority and risked increased violence unrest and instability. The administrations focus is on ensuring that the government of the drc implement the calendar and do not undertake any actions that further postpone the long overdue elections. We believe theres an opportunity for progress, despite the challenges. A democratic transition of power, which can only come through genuine free and Fair Election is essential for the congolese people. The african sub region and the Strategic Interests across the continent. Including preventing wide scale regional insecurity. Which have been precursors to genocide. Denying illegal arm groups and International Actors and regimes, such as north korea and isis. Access to black markets. Preventing the region from becoming a stateless zone that is impossible to monitor, and respond to disease outbreaks such as ebola pandemics. And atrocities such as the rape of women and girls. Elections alone will not solve drcs daunting challenges, they are critical to the countrys stability. We are prepared to work with our International Partners, to ensure that the electoral process is transparent, conducting accordance with international standards. Its important to understand this extremely complex country, the drc, the size of the United States, east of the mississippi, with more than 80 Million People and no basic infrastructure. All nationally elected politicians. Have overstated their elected terms in office. Opposition parties in serve ail society are understandably deeply distressed by the sunnis. Restrictions on freedom of assembly, as well as politically motivated prosecution of opposition leaders have significantly exacerbated tensions. Already weak and limited state authorities have become increasingly tenuous, and absent in many areas in some elements of the states Security Forces have committed Human Rights Violations and mass acrossities. Numerous nonstate arm groups continue to operate in the drc. The drc is one of the worlds pourest countries. Despite the complex environment. We know that generally free and Fair Elections can be held in 2018. There is no question that the congolese people deeply desire to choose a new leader through elections. The state department is working with our intraagency partners to make sure steps are implemented toward elections that are free, fair, credible, timely and result in a peaceful democratic transfer of power. We are similarly coordinating closely with our International Partners. And multilateral institutions, key elements of this approach include the announcement of the electoral calendar. We are coordinating closely with our International Partners. To press the government to fully implement all required steps in the drcs electoral process. We are pressing both the government and the opposite to operate within the framework of the constitution, and the december agreement to reject violence and calls for uncongress sti tugsal change. We are actively pressed both the public through Public Statements and private diplomatic engagements, the government of the drc to respect Political Freedom and rights, and refrain from excessive and unlawful use of force, we coordinate our messaging and advocacy with key partners, including our european and regional partners. Finally, since june 2016, if we have imposed targeted sanctions on six current and former drc officials, we remain prepared to impose additional sanctions as developments warrant. Our immediate focus is on the electoral process, the ongoing security and humanitarian needs also remain important priorities. The United States has driven to end the violence throughout the drc we are continuing to provide assistance in response to the humanitarian crisis. And make sure those responsible for abuses and atrocities are held accountable. We have worked with International Partners to address needs. Over 620,000 refugees now living outside the country. And thousands of refugees who are neighboring countries or inside the drc. We will continue to partner with our International Partners, in finding a long Term Solution to bring about peace and stability. The stability of the drc is a key administrative objective in africa, given the drcs security related importance, we need only recall the ramifications of the last war, from 1998 to 2002. We understand the enormous transformation and Trans National negative impact of Armed Conflict and crisis in the congo. And through free, fair, credible Inclusive Elections, the regions long term ability and development. Our engagement and commitment are unwavering, and thank you, and i welcome your questions. Thank you very much mr. Ambassador. Miss anderson . Good morning, chairman smith. Ranking member bass, conman donovan. Thank you for inviting me to speak today about the democratic republican of congo. Its always an honor to have an opportunity to discuss our work with supporters of africa. And for me its a pleasure to be back testifying before this subcommittee, u. S. Aide has maintained a long term relationship with the drc and its people since the country became interest in 1960, with its vast mineral wealth, the country has tremendous opportunity for Economic Growth that could lift citizens out of poverty and propel the country into middle income status. Instead, violence is ensuing. The drc is teetering on the brink of a crisis. Such as it has not seen since the end of the second political war. The mandates of all drc elected officials have expired. Credible inclusive, and legislative elections are credible, to ensuring a peaceful transition of power, reducing the risk of widespread violence and strengthening the countrys Democratic Institutions and economic development. We are pleased with the recent release of an electoral calendar. Voter registration, already months behind schedule must be completed. Revised electoral laws have to be passed and funding has to be appropriated by the drc government to cover the cost of organizing national elections. Finally, the government of the drc needs to take immediate steps to allow Civil Society, journalists and citizens to express themselves. Protect the human rights of its citizens, and ensure all Political Parties are afforded equitable access to the media, and their rights to assemble peacefully are respected. U. S. Aid remains committed to supporting the timely organization of peaceful, credible and Inclusive Elections that reflect the will of the congolese people, we have provided approximately 37 million in election and political processes programming since 2013. This includes five components. Support for domestic election observation. Civic and Voter Education. Targeted Technical Assistance to the Electoral Commission. Party strengthening and electoral justice. U. S. Aids election activity is implemented by the local episcopal justice and lead organization. We are helping to build their capacity to train and deploy long and short term domestic election observers. In accordance with international standa standards. The civic and Voter Education program is helping more than 35 different Congolese Civil Society organizations to inform citizens and particularly women, youth and other traditionally marginalized groups about the electoral process. Their rights and role as voters, and the importance of peaceful participation in the elections. A grant to the United Nations Development Program provides Technical Assistance to the Electoral Commission for operations, logistics and effective use of information technology. U. S. Aids Political Party strengthening Program Provides training to 10 Political Parties, five from the ruling majority, and five from the oppositi opposition, to better represent and respond to concerns. Finally, our human rights and electoral justice activepyp strengthens National Level justice actors to conduct legal education, provide Legal Services and monitor and respond to Human Rights Violations, include i including electoral disputes. Again, we are encouraged by the announcement of an electoral calendar, but well now need to see confidence Building Measures to ensure that this time line is respected and implemented about and all measures are taken for free credible and peaceful elections. This includes an end to politically motivated prosecutions. The release of Political Prisoners and respect for the right of Peaceful Assembly and association, so that opposition parties and Civil Society organizations may hold peaceful Public Meetings without government interneerns or intimidation. Thank you, mr. Chairman, Ranking Member bass, members of the subcommittee, i look forward to hearing your council and responding to your questions. Thank you so much, miss anderson. The beginning question i want to make clear. Somebody might say, why are we doing this . Why do we care if a president follows his own constitution, and whether or not hes bound by that constitution to two terms, why are we so concerned about it . I think theess sew terik concern about rule of law, which is important is eclipsed for ho, loss of life that were already seeing shaping up. We know when these elections and when people from various parties or even tribes as we see in south sudan that the flareups are huge, large numbers of people are slaughtered and women are raped and horribly abused as a result. So we are on the cusp of what could be, as you have pointed out in your testimonies, an incredible new flareup of violence in a region, as you pointed out, ms. Anderson, thats the size of western europe with 100 Million People approximately, a large country where the potential loss of life is very real. So my questions, first beginning with, again, the violence in the kasai region, the number of internally displaced congolese has surged while the number of those suffering feud famine has reached 7. 7 million. It is on par with crises in iraq, syria and yemen. I wonder if you could speak to how were trying to mitigate this terrible humanitarian crisis that is festering before our eyes. Secondly, let me ask you, if you could, with regards to Peace Keeping, im the one who back who as you might know am the ah thur of the trafficking victims protection act, our landmark law to combat sex labor trafficking and subsequent laws as well. It is a passion of mine, it is a passion of this committee to stop all trafficking because it is a it is modernday slavery. As we ah knll know, the peace keepers who are deployed to the congo early on had a particularly during ambassador swings tenure in office had a terrible record of bribing or taking gifts from young people, raping 13year olds, these are the peace keepers from the u. N. We held several hearings on this subcommittee. Greg and i traveled to goma and met with the peace keepers there and raised it at the United Nations here in washington and in country unceasingly. We understand that and i have been tracking this, that the efforts are far better than theyve ever been but certainly not there yet. People who do commit crimes against congolese, particularly women and girls, are not only sent back to their home countries but theres a heavy admonishment by the u. N. To prosecute, put them behind bars and to ensure that theyre never redeployed to another Peace Keeping mission ever again where they can recommit those crimes. If you could speak, if you would, to menesco, whether or not it is practicing what we thought, covey annan had a policy where we had a hearing that called it zero compliance because it was so ineffectively implemented. Notwithstanding the great efforts by an american who was in a great position to fight for that. So if you could speak to that. Finally, let me ask you about the most credible in my opinion and reliable and effective interlocuters for peace and free and Fair Election in the congo is the Catholic Church. Karen bass and i were in south sudan last may and we met with the president and had a very straightforward conversation with him, not all that happy because of the terrible killings that are occurring there. He wouldnt even meet with the faithbased consortium of leaders, bishops, clergy of all kinds, who really are the key to reconciliation. Now we see potentially a dde j de ja vu in the congo. How do we support the church in its efforts, the amount of money and who it is going to. As nikki haley said yesterday, you know, if this road map for having this election does not happen we wouldnt support the election. We are not going to support a fraud and a sham. So if you can speak to those three. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thats a long list of issues that we need to tackle. First is going to manusco and Peace Keeping operation. As you know, 63 of all u. N. Ops is in africa. What we have been firmly committed and especially with this new u. N. Security secretary general, but also our own Community Human rights and also to your legislation, mr. Chairman, which has been supportive and very helpful, is that we look at it and all u. N. Operations, that they have taken the necessary and proper sets on s. E. A. , the sexual exploitation, and ensure those who committed the violations are held accountable. Were not doing just on manusco but all of the other organizations. The contact and Discipline Team is currently com paparazzoed of 23 personnel with offices in kenchasa and four regional offices. They are implementing strong regional actions in training, et cetera, through risk assessment, military police deterrent patrols, enforcement of strict curfews and outofbound regimes. The srs again has taken a strong position on the s. E. A. The other issue as you know, the United States and state department, we train Peace Keeping troops, over 300,000. Part of that is human rights, the protection of human rights and s. E. A. Let me go into the other areas, is on the violence. Is that menuscos Main Objective and goal is to protect civilians. Of course, we have had from 2013 an Intervention Brigade which is used to target groups like n23 and prevent other problems and militias from rising and creating issues. Those are some helpful uses. But the other issue too is that we need to keep up a very consistent, persistent observation of the gross human rights abuses taking place in the drc, not only just by militias and the fardic troops but by all groups and we have to hold each person accountable. As you may recall, mr. Chairman, that in june at the Human Rights Council we supported the International Experts being sent to look at the gross human rights atrocities and, of course but not only look at the atrocities, but also investigating the cases, particularly the death of sharp and catalan. That remains, this murder case will remain a priority for us to look at and to investigate. The other thing is that during Ambassador Haleys visit to the drc she met with sinko and also the Catholic Church and also faithbased groups and really strongly supported and we agree in strongly supporting the facilitation that the Catholic Church had arranged in the agreement of 2016. As you know, faithbased groups have been a cornerstone, a pillar for a lot of our operations, not just in drc but throughout ethiopia, east africa, west and et cetera, because of their commitment and quality of work and low overhead cost. And i guess on the let me turn to my on the Peace Keeping, are we you did touch on it somewhat, but are we satisfied that theyre protecting and the duty to protect is being followed . The issue for the Peace Keeping is not, i must be very clear, it is not. But the issue is the complexity of the drc. By having a political impasse it has given emboldened a lot of the militias to conduct and engage in very striking gross human rights abuse. One way to kind of rein in some of the abuse is to have a coherent free, fair, open and elections that are going to be executed, implemented in 2018. We have to hold those people accountable. Let me just kind of if i can get off one tangent on three issues, and that is there are three requirements that were going to be focused on. Thats a technical aspects requirements. The other thing is the political requirements, and also the human rights requirements. So the technical obviously is the electoral process, the announcing and registering voters, ensuring that theyre scrubbed, looking at the Voter Registration, looking at the candidates registrations. Thats on the technical side. But on the political side is that, well, were looking at very carefully, is that the government as well as the opposition, but the government has to give have confidenceBuilding Measures. In other words they cannot arrest Political Prisoners. They have to have open political space. They have to have assembly of allow assembly of people to assemble and to discuss, and there has to be looking at and curbing at and addressing the excessive use of violence and force. So those are some of the issues. That goes into the human rights issues of looking at and trying to prevent and stop the excessive and gross human rights abuse. But lets go on to the thank you. Chairman smith, you asked about the situation in kasais and then Peace Keeping and then the churches. I would like to start with the situation in the kasai provinces. First of all, the widespread violence and Human Rights Violations that weve seen there are totally unacceptable. This is against innocent civilians. We know that the violence has been subsiding, but that should not take our attention away from the fact that this is a very serious security and human rights and humanitarian situation in the kasais with people starting to come back. We also have to make sure that we dont lose sight of the fact that people need to be accountable for the for the abuses that have that weve seen. So the United States along with our bilateral and multilateral partners have been responding with our efforts to end the violence and hold people responsible for the heinous acts, but also on the humanitarian side we have been responding. We scaled up our funding. It has been hard to operate. It had been previously hard to even get in there. As you mentioned, it can be very treacherous for humanitarian workers but we did scale up a response for health and Food Security as well as protection of children who are affected by the violence, and we air lifted 300 metric tons of blankets and cooking kits and other other kinds of humanitarian supplies into into the area in kasai, Kasai Central and other provinces there. The whole country, this is just one part of the country. So there are different numbers out there. The ones that i have are that we have as many as 3. 9 million internally displaced people in drc, and thats the most thats the highest number for all of sub saharan africa, and 600,000 refugees who have now left the drc. We have provided in fiscal year 2017, the u. S. Government has provided a total of 190 million in humanitarian assistance across the country the country, and of that 128 million is from u. S. Aid. Weve always remained committed to providing humanitarian assistance to people who are in need with working with the u. N. And with our ngo partners. I wont really speak on Peace Keeping except to say that in the area of of genderbased violence i think you are aware that u. S. Aid has been very engaged since 2002 in preventing and responding to genderbased violence. And on the Catholic Church and churches and faithbased organizations, definitely these groups play such a Critical Role in the country in keeping peace and helping to ensure that people hold their government accountable, that theyre involved in the election process, and also in providing services across the country to people. We have repeatedly endorsed the Catholic Churchs december 31stdecember 31st agreement and we continue to urge respect for that agreement. And i did mention earlier that were working with the episcopal justice and Peace Organization on domestic observation efforts. Thank you. Without objection we are going to put the december 31st agreement in the record so all can see. Thank you for your testimony. I yield to Ranking Member bass. Thank you, mr. Chair. Just a few questions. I wanted to get some specifics because when you are talking about both of our witnesses, when you are talking about Holding People accountable, i wanted to know how we do that. Ambassador yamamoto, you were talking about political, technical, you were talking about the confidenceBuilding Measures. You said technical, political and human rights, is that what you were saying . I wanted to know how we specifically go about that. I mean i hear from people all the time of folks being arrested and i dont know what our role in that is, or when we see the violence taking place, especially governmentinitiated violence. Let me give one introductory remark and then go to the discussion. Since coming in and the acting secretary i made a consistent effort to talk with our partners and colleagues dealing with drc. An issue is we find it extremely unacceptable that the elections in the drc has taken so long and the instability that has given rise to militias and other groups because theyve been emboldened by the lack of political certainty. We have talked to the African Union, the savic and the european colleagues, the donors, and the issue comes in that by holding kabilia and the opposition accountable, but mostly in this case the president that he doesnt have political space to maneuver, to escape, to delay, but that he is held focused that you will have elections. The other issue too is i know we discussed with the opposition one of the areas was that they want to look at a Transitional Government. We said no. Under the constitution and under the saints offest esther it wil there. We will hold him accountable to instituting, implementing the agreements and according to the constitution the process for election of the president. Yeah, i just wonder what we specifically do. I mean i understand we talk to au, that we talk to sadick, but what measures do we specifically take. Is there something we withhold back . What do we do . I think on the broader scope, by having the africans and the europeans committed and focused, that puts on the president the onus that he has no political space. He has to implement. He has to be committed to doing this, and that there is no alternative or no ability to delay that process. So, well, yes, although he has delayed it. You mentioned there were sanctions that were prepared and i was wondering what kind of sanctions. You know that were looking at legislation, and i wanted to know what your thoughts were about that. Everything has to be on the table. As you know, we did implement targeted sanctions, o fact sanctions on six specific individuals and sanctions are on the table. So if we target the specific individuals, what are we sanctioning them for . They cant come to the United States . And their assets, their do they have assets here . Assets not only here but in other countries. By doing all of the Banking Institutions, that helps restrict their operations. It is something similar that we have done in other countries and to other individuals. I know that we have the so thats on the ofact side. The other issue is we can look at limiting the ability to come to the United States through visa processes. We can also look through with the United Nations and on u. N. Sanctions, and also build on it through sanctions from the European Union as well. So it has to be a very concerted effort. When we do sanctions like that on the individuals because i know that some of these folks i dont know specifically about the group that youre talking about, but some of them have children here. Yes. Going to our universities. Yes. Do our sanctions ever refer to that . The sanction is only on the specific individuals. It is not like on a family per se . Well, obviously if the for instance, hypothetical, if an individuals banking, because they have gotten illgotten assets, lets say that obviously will affect the family members because they cant access the Banking Institutions and to get the money out because those are illgotten assets. Do we ever say their families cant come here . It depends on if they have been targeted. Yeah, i understand on the financial part, but i was just because i know that one of the strategies that is used is that their relatives are not in the countries. Thats right. When all of the strive is happening, their individual families are protected. And you raise a very good point, congresswoman bass, and thats something we are discussing separately. But the issue comes in, is family members in one country where family members are living outside of the country benefitting from illgotten assets right. Those people as well right. Cannot access not only the banking facilities but also any of the benefits from those assets so they took would be under those sanctions. Because, you know, one thing we do is allow folks to come here and buy real estate and all sorts of things. Theyre living well. And, again, the way we do the target sanction has to be very negotiated. It has to be looked at. We cant go into who were considering for sanctions, but just generally that everything is on the table for discussion and the breadth and depth of those sanctions. On our end, did we have an ambassador . Currently we have not had one since december of last year. And is there one in the pipeline that just hasnt been confirmed . There is one, but i defer to our the white house personnel system. Do you know if i understand you defer for the specifics, but do you know if the person is awaiting Senate Confirmation . Im not at liberty to say. It is again something for the white house personnel. Thats a secret. Okay. You said that we are really looking at the case of the two murders. Yes. I wanted to know what that meant. What are we doing . We have an american citizen one was an american. An american, but that doesnt matter because both of them were part theyre investigating the mass atrocities that had taken place. Their work is important to us. As part of the process were coordinating looking at investigations, pushing the United Nations, pushing operations, pushing the drc, pushing are they doing who is doing the investigation, by the way . Is the drc doing it or is it an International Investigation . It is all weve said everyone is going to be participating in the investigation because this is a priority for the United States to look at who were involved in the murders and to hold those people accountable. One thing is that we supported the u. N. Secretary generals recent appointment of Robert Pettit of canada to head a team that will assist in the International Investigation into the death of mr. Sharp and ms. Catalan. Then we are looking at other means and methods to help those investigations. Also on our end i know that we were talking about the Peace Keeping troops, but we pushed for a rather deep reduction in the troop levels. Right. So how does that work . Because i think you were saying was that you, ms. Anderson . Were you talking about the real need for troops, but yet we proposed cutting them back . Right. So the Ambassador Haley in her trip to the drc, one of the issues was focusing on Peace Keeping missions that are fit for purpose, and i think that was the keyword, fit for purpose. And so if we look at meusco as probably one of the longest and largest serving Peace Keeping operations for the United Nations, and the issue comes in how do you make those more efficient, effective, target. On the one hand, yes, i know that Ambassador Haley raised the issue of the refugees being killed by the fardic troops. How did meusco respond or not respond . How about the battatan, the troops that are used it is not enough to target and go after all of the problems that are in i was just referencing we asked for reduction, yet we said more were needed. So i didnt understand why we asked for a reduction. Okay. So i think it is the general right now there currently is to assess the effectiveness of menusco, looking at do we have the right miss set and that it is fit for purpose according to what Ambassador Haley i see. So there might be fewer, but youre saying they might be more specific. Specific and targeted. And you were mentioning and i believe this was ms. Anderson was mentioning the Electoral Assistance we have provided over the years. You gave quite a span of years, and i was just wondering what we are doing now, specifically how much and what does it mean that we provide Electoral Assistance . I mentioned that we have been providing assistance since 2013 in preparation for this this election thats coming up. So it is not just the one day of the election but it is a process. And so our 37 million in funding is for those five components that i mentioned, and a lot of it has been in process because we have been working on things like voter and Civic Education so that the people know what to expect, how to get involved in elections, working with Political Parties. So just to understand kind of specifically, because i certainly understand that in the abstract. But specifically, did we fund a u. S. Ngo or a drc ngo that goes in villages and sits down and talks to people . Is that an example . And given that voter renl str s registration is real behind, are we doing anything . And if we are, can you give an example of a project we fund and what they do . Sure. Thats really important now because we have to keep adjusting. Now we have a date, so that means that we can put a number of things into motion towards the date of the election. But i can talk about, for example, the civic and Voter Education component of our program. We have invested 19 million in this program that is implemented by counterpart international. They work with 38 is that a u. S. Company . Yes, its working with 38 different Congolese Civil Society organizations. And those thats how were helping to build the local capacity so that those organizations, now they inform the citizens. They work with the citizens to talk about the electoral process, what are your rights as a voter, whats your role as a voter, what do you need to do to get involved, and they also have a specific component on peaceful participation. Is it a Consulting Firm . Counterpart international is a i think it is a i may have to get back to you. It may be a notforprofit organization. We have the four other components. I would like to mention the component on elections observation, and that is one of our few direct awards to a drcbased organization which do you is it ndi and iri or that comes out of another, on our part . Ndi is involved in the component of our assistance that we call Political Party training. Uhhuh. So then you fund drc group to do the observation . Right. So they coordinate a number of congolese groups to do the observation, and this is the episcopal justice and Peace Organization in drc. So given now we know the election is december of next year, is more money needed, or because these elections have been stalled have you been holding on to the dollars in anticipation that one day we would get a date . Yeah, its were hustling now to have a look at what we have, but we had extended our awards into 2018 and 2019, and at this point i think we may have to make some adjustments to get us through that period, through the period of the elections. But for the most part we had done extensions to the programs to allow us to continue into 2018, potentially 2019. Thank you. It is a long process, so there it is not just the election yeah, especially when you dont know when. Yes. Ms. Anderson and we hope they stick to the date. We have to hold them to that. You know, as you realize unmet need, if you could advise our subcommittee. I know you will be advising hopefully the Appropriations Committee as well, so that we can try to meet that need. I yield to my good friend and colleague dan. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I just have one question for both of you. Maybe, mr. Secretary, you could speak about the election process and maybe, ms. Anderson, you could talk about our humanitarian efforts. We are a passionate nation, particularly when it comes to both democracies and humanitarian efforts. We are also a very compassionate nation. How do we see our role, the United States role in the government of other countries . Theres a lot of talk about other countries influence on our election process here in the United States. Now were talking about maybe the United States involvement in elections in another country. I was just wondering how do we define our role and what do we see as proper, and for the humanitarian efforts in a country that im not sure theyre cooperate with usaids efforts to help people, but we as a nation reach out to those folks in the rest of the globe who are suffering and sometimes their country or their government might not appreciate our efforts and may see what were trying to do in humanitarian environment as trying to influence their people in other ways. I was just wondering if you could just give me background on that. So our role in the political process, we dont pick winners, losers, and were not addressing or advocating for any candidate. What were doing is these are agreement. The constitution of the drc can and the saints of esther agreement of 2016 negotiated by the Catholic Church which both the government and the opposition signed, what were doing is holding both parties accountable and committed to what they had signed. For four years i led peace talks and negotiations in the congo, and everywhere i went the United States stands as a symbol that we are going to work for what the people of congo want, and they demand an election, a credible, free, fair, open election. And in that context were going to support the people of the congo to say, yes, we are going to were behind you, we are going to hold the government and the opposition accountable to do these electoral process. Mr. Secretary, do we do it as a nation, are we doing that as a group as the United Nations . How do we do it . Does the United States stand alone in doing that or are the partners at the u. N. Assisting in that as well . Yes, we do it in the context of negotiations with the donor community, the United Nations and also the african communities and local unions within the congo and the various groups. Mr. Secretary. Could you speak about our humanitarian efforts . Yes. We always do our best to respond to humanitarian crises wherever they are. In the drc we have a very challenging environment. We work closely with the u. N. , with other bilateral and Multilateral Development partners, with international and local ngos. We always have to coordinate our efforts. We always encourage the government we need their cooperation and we always encourage them to do increasingly more to respond to humanitarian crises. This is a tough one in the drc. I can say that we are a major donor in humanitarian assistance in sub saharan africa, and that includes the drc. So many of the other players look to us to play a leading role. I would just conclude by saying that once again this is a very challenging environment and it is very difficult for us to kind of get ahead of the situation as well as to decide what to do because it is a dangerous environment for our humanitarian workers. And we say were great donors. Is that just in Financial Resources . Is it in Human Resources . What is our actual presence there . We have we have personnel on the ground who work on humanitarian assistance, and we work with local and other international organizations, especially the United Nations, to deliver humanitarian assistance in the form of food assistance, Emergency Health assistance, other types of relief supplies, and also one thing we work on is the protection of citizens, especially children in dangerous situations. And my last question. Do you find resistance in the drc from the efforts that you just described . I would say that one of the Biggest Challenges is the questionable will of the government to move forward on its commitments. In the december 31st agreement and also their the fact that we have such a dangerous environment with the violence and Human Rights Violations makes it very hard for us to do our humanitarian work. I thank you both. The chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. Garrett. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for convening this important meeting. It is interesting. As a freshman of this committee to sort of do the learning curve on africa in particular. Certain trends have emerged in my observations, but first let me thank our panelist, mr. Chairman, mr. Yamamotos service goes back to the tragic events in tiananmen square, and ms. Anderson served and i will thank you for your service in the peace corps, putting a good face for america in the remainder of the world and a good investment that some of my colleagues under values as relates to ori and the opinion of people across the world that might only get the opinion mass media have. Thats so important. Thank you for that. I dont want anybody to break out in laughter when i ask this question, but as we work towards hopefully free, fair and Transparent Elections in congo the democratic republic of congo, what can we do to ensure that the chinese influence over the electoral process doesnt tilt the scales in the direction that would be to the benefit of the chinese . And thats an open question. Thank you very much, mr. Congressman. You know, we have looked at the in our coordination with the International Community and we do hold annual discussions with the chinese specifically on what theyre doing in africa. And were trying to steer not only china but all of these countries to play a helpful, supportive role. The other area too that we have concerns is, of course, the exploitation of resources in eastern congo. That is thats my next question. That is the area that weve been working on very long and hard, is that to that the people of the congo need to benefit from the resources. There has to be a rational process in whereby you develop these resources. And one of the things is that, you know, looking at your question is that we do discuss as the chinese on a whole spectrum of aspects, and not just china but other countries involved positively and negatively in the drc. Ms. Anderson, if you want to . And if you dont want to, then i will keep going. I guess i would just say if youre referring to the elections and our involvement related to the chinese, were focusing on local capacity, and were working so that the congolese can be prepared to participate in their election and hold their own government accountable, so that they can start to be able to define their own future. Thats the role were playing in the election, quite different from the chinese. Right. Thats something thats noteworthy here as we as americans recognize that perhaps american, dare i say overreach globally has manifested itself in ways we didnt anticipate, that there are certain types of aid that are greatly appreciated and others that are taken because theyre aid but that come with a backlash, if you will. Theres a vacuum i think inherently created and the chinese are all too happy to fill it. Pardon me, im going to do some lil kwee here. I did speak to a rafrpginking m of a north africa country where a building was built by china, they built a balance as. Wh palace. We you get off at the airport and in ethiopia where if we get it right great things will happen, and if we dont tragic things will happen, you almost feel like youre in a chinese annex. The chinese record of exploitation of individuals is apparent even from 2007 as it relates to exploitation of child labor, as relates to oil deposits which if properly levied should make the drc one of the most prosperous nations on the planet. The chinese efforts are historically and demonstrably to ensuring chinese access to things like tungsten and coal and cobalt and things that have implications for ion batteries and jet engine components. So i get it, except what were trying to do is empower the people in the drc to be the leaders of the people in the drc without a combative tone and understanding theres a Global Economic struggle afoot and the chinese are strong competitors therein, how do we ensure the power in congo goes to the congolese, that our monies that are spent arent converted by way of chinese exploitation of stability that we helped create to enrich the chinese at the expense literally of the poorest and weakest people in places like the drc . Im asking for suggestions, because i dont know the answer. Understanding that we dont want to take a combative stance but my primary function on the committee is to the extent it is relevant and possible for the United States to create a better circumstance for human rights to do so. How do we do that without empowering the chinese to continue exploitive practices . I think it is a very difficult question and a very complex situation. The issue is we talk it is not just the chinese but it is a lot of outside countries and regional states as well exploiting the resources. Of course, our efforts are to make sure we monitor, we hold people accountable, and we look at how these resources are being distributed and find mechanisms and ways that the people of the congo can benefit from those resources. In our annual discussions, since your question is on china, is that we do have were coming up to another annual discussions with china to see whether they can play a helpful role. In the past theyve done an Engineering Battalion in sudan. Theyve done Road Construction to a. I. D. And u. S. Projects. So looking and seeing where we can have areas of commonality and then areas where we do not, is how do we make sure that it is beneficial to the people in africa. Will the gentleman yield . Yes, absolutely. My colleague from california, ms. Bass. Thank you very much. I look for one of the things i wanted to say in terms of chinas involvement, i really want to see more involvement from our companies, you know. One of the areas that im really interested this is promoting our companies in the u. S. To get involved in infrastructure. China is famous for building roads in africa, and it is a real mixed bag in terms of what did you say . Not so good roads. Exactly, not so good roads. But we certainly know the quality of our companies, and so i would really like to work with you in the future in ways that we can establish partnerships to promote u. S. Business involvement because im distressed by the chinese involvement as well. But i think one answer of it is to step up ours. I think i would thank the congresswoman and sort of pile on there. Weve spoken just a couple of times and i think originally with regard to oppressed minorities in africa. I look forward to working with the congresswoman. It strikes me that the chinese infrastructure created in africa almost always heads from the Natural Resource to the ports. Go figure. But it is at some level a National Security situation for our nation as it relates to rare earth minerals, et cetera, and, again, there is a role for this country to play in perpetuating basic human dignities and freedoms and expectations. We could spend another entire hearing on alleged abuses by u. N. Peace keeping forces and we have, my friend, four of them. So it is a real problem. Well, it is tragic, right . To paraphrase president reagan, im from the u. N. And im here to help and it gets worse, and so that doesnt mean we should throw up our hands and stop trying. But when we have people of your caliber with your experience, you know, again within the appropriate role and purview of the u. S. Federal government, we need to care about human beings across the world. A prominent foreign leader said to me, look, if the chinese will help us and there are strings attached, it is still help. And if we withdraw and create a vacuum, somebody is going to fill it. But the challenge here is how we are good stewards, work within the appropriate realm of whats federally allowable in this country, and then dont subsidize bad outcomes. Thats what frustrates me. In no way, shape or form am i an adversarial tone with you two fine people. We have these hearings, we talk, it feels good, but what are the answers . And so i think Congress Woman bass and i are on the same page there, but there are opportunities to be had. Right. If a corporate entity wants to make money, thats fine, but if they help people while theyre doing it, it is even better. How do we do that . How do we ensure our investments arent undergirding our geopolitical rivals and potentially militarily, and how do we do so without victimizing people who have a 200year history of being victimized from outsider . Before we go to the next panel, i would point out briefly to my good friend, on one trip to kantasha, i will never forget i had dinner with a member of parliament who works a farm. He said, i can grow anything. I loved his attitude. He showed me his farm, he could grow anything. I cant get it to market, theres no roads, no bridges, and i say that, very few. The chinese have come in, and in quid pro quo, in a fleecing of the congo which theyve done elsewhere in africa they have gotten minerals, wood, all kind of commodities at unbelievably discounted prices for those roads and bridges. We have the foreign corrupt practices act that precludes, that holds accountable those who engage in bribery and other corrupt practices. Chinese have no such law. So we know that corruption is a very serious issue here and the congolese are not getting anywhere near what they should be getting for what they give to china in exchange for those roads and bridges. We need to do much more on trying to ensure that our and i would say our friends and allies who are truly democracies with Something Like the foreign corrupt practices act, but especially the United States. I have one final question of many, but i will finish with this. Mr. Chairman, if i could interrupt . I apologize. Thank you for yielding. The first thing we can do is tell the world that the chinese are exploiting people. Exactly. Again, i dont have a problem with chinese corporate entities, i dont have a problem with them building roads but fleecing is a great word. Yes, my friend. We have had several hearings on that kind of corruption, really exploiting of resources on their way to ghana, there are many countries, and unfortunately it is not covered by the press. We hold these hearings, get bills passed and it is not even on page 15. That is discouraging but we have to do it anyway. We have to do what is right. I thank my friend for raising that. My question would be the u. N. 2017 humanitarian plan is now running for this year at about 42 . My question is are the u. N. Needs assessment, is it accurate . Do we believe, do we have confidence that they have a real handle on what is needed to be done to mitigate disease, death, mortality, from things like hunger and illnesses . And, secondly, what does a near 60 underfunding of u. N. For the drc mission, humanitarian needs mean to women and children and vulnerable populations . Mr. Chairman, we always have some involvement when the u. N. Is doing their assessments because we are engaged with them on a daytoday basis. By the same token, we look at the assessments with a critical eye based on our knowledge of the situation on the ground, and the reality is that often the requirements are much higher than what we all together can meet. So it means that we always have to prioritize, and thats what were constantly doing, is prioritizing and looking at what we can provide, what is the highest priority thats really going to make the most difference. The United States will always be there for people in need. Our resources are not unlimited, so it is very important for us to prioritize. Thats why it is important for us to have a good assessment of what the situation is on the ground. I thank you. I would just point out i have chaired hearings in the past, a number much them, about the mass exodus of people from the middle east. Once they got to refugee camps, usually under the auspices of the unacr, they found once there, particularly longer stayers, that the gross underfunding including the World Food Program which massively cut their allocation, but it was the order of magnitude about 40 of what the u. N. Assessment was for those. Thats why they up rooted and left and flocked into europe and elsewhere because they saw no future. There was no Education Opportunities and certainly there wasnt enough food, clothing and shelter to meet their legitimate needs. So for the International Community to go cheap on refugees and idps is a very bad bargain, first and foremost for the victims, but secondly because theyre going to move somewhere else. They are to because they care for their families. I thank you again for your great leadership and for your testimony today. Just one quick question, comment. So, mr. Chairman, this is excellent, i want to make one comment on what congresswoman bass had said. The point is i dont like to play defense. I like to play offense. One of the offensive issues is we need to get more American Companies. How do we encourage American Companies . The area of course is Risk Insurance and financing and other support, and our embassies are supporting 100 and were looking at means and mechanism. So we will continue to do that, madam congressman. Thank you. Thank you. I would like to welcome our second panel beginning first with im sorry . Maniba, a veteran of the United States marine corps. Misdizo laylay, was a grantor on crisis reporting and covered the 2006 historical actions in the democratic republic of congo. He produced a documentary report on the relationship between the congo conflict and the scramble for mineral resources. He served as an Election Monitor with the Carter Center in congo in 2006 and again in 2011. He was embedded with the u. N. Peace keepers in congos district of the South Province as a reporter. He testified before various subcommittees of both chambers. Again we welcome here today. We will hear from mr. Fred baoma with an organization known, the american acronym or name is the struggle for change. This nonviolent, nonpartisan Civil Society movement was founded in june of 2012 in goma, the capital of north kivo and drc. The movement campaigns for justice and encourages congolese citizens to push for respect for human rights. He was arrested in march of 2015 but was later released. He currently resides in the United States. Well then hear from severtine autaseir. She works on civil wars, Peace Keeping, peace building, and humanitarian aid. Professors latest Research Project examines resolutions to local and bottom up peace building. Earlier Research Progress focused on violence and International Intervention in the eastern part of democratic republic of congo where she traveled regularly since 2001. Her field work an analysis cu culminated in 2010. We will hear from eyida sawary, the Central Africa director for Human Rights Watch. She has been based in congo since january 2008, first in goem ah sin goma. Shes barred from continuing her work in the country following a series of human rights publications, Human Rights Watch, on political repression. She is now based in brussels where she oversees Human Rights Watch work in congo and other areas. She has conducted research in congo and other areas. Her research has been integral to numerous human rights reports and has informed the world about what has been going on. If i could, sir, if you could begin. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for the invitation and honor to testify before you. The views i express today are mine and mine alone. I would like to submit my remarks for the record with your permission. Over the years i have probably provided my analysis for development of congo in several committees in both chambers of this august congress. Today however i beg for your indulgence. I do not wish to speak as an academic lawyer i mean journalist, analyst or fellow. I want to speak as a human being talks to other human beings. I would like to speak plainly, no academic speech. I want to say that he must be. The suffering of the people rises with one man, joseph cabila which shares with a small and shrinking cadre with associated family members. Over the last 16 years this group captured states with total impunity at expense of the people. A series of reports from Carter Center, the paradise paper, Bloomberg News and the Congo Research group and others have documented and exposed the wide extent to which drcs natural and Financial Resources, estimated in billion also of dollars, have been diverted to benefit this small group. The regime has been characterized by three things, looting, plunder and deadly violence. We have tolerated this for too long. It is time for a new leadership. Again, he mug. His biography is a cinderella story with a bloody twist. Cabila having grown in outside congo showed up in congress for the first time at the age of 26 during the war that eventually vanquished the late president. He made his son a twostar general and appointed him chief of staff of the armed forces, the Ground Forces that is. Four years later after his father was assassinated the younger became president. Most of the congolese disapproved of his asession to president but the International Community embraced him. Donors initiated a number of projects to help him end the war that his father that he inherited from his father. This initiative included sun city accord, transition, the constitution referendum and the 2006 election. On the security front the world raised the largest Peace Keeping force or Peace Keeping mission to help him buy time and build an army. The world bank overrule i mean remitted the debt at the tune of about 13 billion. Again, to help him start a new economy, and then the World Bank Also wrote a new mining code that eventually he would misuse the mining code to train his power for financial and political games. So we were really the world to make him success and nothing could derail what he started. When arrest his men, opponent to get him out of the way so that he will succeed. Unfortunately he did not succeed. He himself set out to undermine the political gain and democratic gain of the country. Despite the legitimacy that he had achieved, he wanted to change the constitution, eventually leading the country in 2011 in highlycontested and botched elections. Despite his good will, he has not succeeded. Since then the country has gone from crisis to crisis to crisis. When we confront him and his associates about the abysmal record, they typically blame everyone and everything from the weather, the political position, rwanda,on goal ah, the United States and the militias. Everything except themselves. Nobody ever takes responsibility for actions in drc, and the government definitely never fire anyone and nobody ever resigns. So even by the standards of Central Africas dysfunctional states, the regime stands alone in its mediocrity. Unlike his peers in the region, he has no Political Base and is so unpopular he cannot face his fellow citizens and explain why he should stay in power. Every time he made attempt to stay longer he faced resistance from the population, so his government has decided to simply not fund and organize the elections. His action has old emboldened the congolese to demand that he leaves office. So i believe that we should not be as the government seems to propose today blissfully naive about the decision that we will be holding the election next year by december. The record stand for itself. It has been 16 years. I dont have to go further into this. But this, but i just want to say that internally kabila has no good options. Hes tried everything. Subvert the constitution, kill protesters, gel everyone, the International Communitys helped him. He has failed. The only option he has is to rely on military force and bloody repression. Weve already seen too much of that. At this point, the congolese see him as illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional president. Which he is. He is. Theyre already referring to him as the former president. So should we. Kabila and his associates are spending lots to launder his image and fend off the pressure. Communications systems, an israeli firm to represent his interests in washington, d. C. , for nearly 6 million. This is in a country where civil servant, nurses and doctors are on strike because theyre not being paid, nurses and doctors yet the government is spending over 6 million in lobbying effort. When it expired, they tried to give him another year. Thats way, way too long that anybody sensible should accept. Kabila must go. The longer he stays in office the greater risk for violence and stability. For my recommendation this body and the government of the United States should impose sanctions on kabila and his family and his inner circle, who have been posing totally irrelevant generals, ministers. He should be held accountable. Weve spoken to kabila a long time, at the highest level of the government. President obama, secretary kerry, secretary clinton, senator feingold, theyve all in a way most dictators would have wished for and hes not adjusted. The head of the independent national Electoral Commission. Is delaying tactics fuel detentions and he is convinced in his own bubble makes since but most of all know most of the time hes incoherent and and nonsensical. They have reset assets for a monthly fee of 30,500, to represent him, head of an Electoral Commission. The group, llc, represent the independent national Election Commission for a fee of 35,000. This is a red flag. The message here is the Electoral Commission cares more about what the u. S. Government thinks or does while showing contempt for the congolese opinion. While they almost never meet to update the electoral process theyre spending millions of taxpayer dollars both in the u. S. And in congo on frequent travels and on expensive lobbying effort in washington, d. C. This, again, is unacceptable. He should be held accountable. He should be put on the sanction list. The u. S. Congress, this body, has been Holding Hearings for drc for years to little effect on the ground. I feel that we are all accomplices and unless we act, these hearings will remain abstract academic discussions. Your committee, your subcommittee, have been considering legislation on drc for six months. Now is the time to show resolve forcefully and much more stronger. I think i will stop here and wait for q a. Thank you very much. Thank you. I was reading your bio, and i think that you probably speak more languages than the rest of the room combined, which is unusual for a marine. I was an army guy. Thank you. Without objection, the full remarks of all witnesses will be entered into the record without request. I thank you for that. We have votes coming up relatively quickly but i want to get everyones testimony in if we can. I would ask you all to continue and mr. Balma, we welcome your comments. Thank you. Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member and members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to speak about my country, the drc. I hope to share some insights. That you find valuable. On monday, october 13th, several men all under 20 years of age were shot by congo police and military police while protesting peacefully. Those called by the Coalition Including movements. The aim of these demonstrations was to call president kabila to resign as consequences for his failure to organize election and to respect the timelines in our constitution. It should concern the United States that this violence broke down on Peaceful Protesters took place so bluntly the week after Ambassador Nikki Haley visited the drc. Calling for timely free and Fair Elections have escalated as kabila is willing to show contempt of mandated term limit has become increasingly obvious. I have personally experienced this repression, and when i spent over 17 months in jail for exercising my constitutional rights. But my story is not unique. Since september 2016, almost 150 peaceful demonstrator have been killed, while 100 more have been arrested or kidnapped by Security Forces and many of them remain in jail. Government official including mayors and head of police in some cities has been requipping guns, called antigun or some other name, those group deployed to arrest and sometimes arbitrary arrests. And members of your position. His groups have been responsible for severe human rights in many places in drc and work with the National Police an congolese intelligence service. At some time, the arrests and Media Outlets are shut down. According to a new report, an independent watchdog, the congolese government are responsible for 80 of the attacks. While fighting oppression, they have the same message, the need for a peaceful transition by the end of this year as shown by the agreement saying kabila must go. The political repression is a small part of the overall human right crisis that affects millions of congolese people. Over 4. 5 million of persons including 1. 5 million in the region meant it more than 30,000 refuges to angola, 80 mass graves and over 500 5,000 killed and hundreds of schools destroyed. In the east of congo, there has been the search of massacres and intercriminals. This is linked to the political crisises leading Mass Organization and attempt to overstay his power in violation of the constitution and the agreement. This agreement granted the government one year to organize election and transition of power. It is causing trouble, that potentially may undermine the peace and security in not only drc, but also the region. While poverty and misery are increasing significantly and the country is collapsing and the economy of the country is collapsing, the president and his family are known to have built a rich empire through elicit means. Theyre invoking massive looting of resources, corruption, money laundering, potentially implicated terrorist groups. These activities include some individuals and companies to the u. S. Citizen and u. S. Financial system that the u. S. Treasury could target. By refusing to respect the constitution, by refusing to oppress the Political Parties instead of implementing in good faith the agreements, kabila has undermined the trust and credibility necessary for any dialogue. It will be a total waste of time to push yet for another round of negotiation between kabila and his opposition. Their routine of nldless and useless dialogues cannot only be considered on the crisis. This government has extended again and again that they are delayed tactic used to divert attention that the fact that the government has no intention to organize an election that will remove kabila from power. This is a way to ensure the election will not be held and if and when they are, this will be washed in the manner that they will never be free of failure. This is dangerous path for congo and one that i hope the u. S. Also means one to avoid. We the people of drc are not seeking pity or charity from the u. S. We are seeking your support in our effort from putting drc once again under a protective sheet. We are prepared to oppose by all peaceful means a president who has violated rule of law of our state constitution. The u. S. Should impose direct targeted sanctions against kabila and his inner circle responsible for Human Rights Violations, money landering, corruption and sabotage of the political and election process. The u. S. Should stop stop any kind of support to the army and police, who are the main perpetrators of Human Rights Violations. Any kind of conditional support by the remembery or police are akin to supporting institutions responsible for atrocities and Human Rights Violations. St. Stead the usa should work with civilians to help protect the u. N. Should start we have a credible Voter Register and in environments where all participants are free to conduct campaigns and have access to public. Finally the u. S. And International Partners particularly the African Union should push kabila to resign any contact of kabila should aim to affecting his resignation. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, i hope this committee and u. S. Citizens understand our hunger for peace, democracy, liberty and happiness. I hope that you understand as did the u. S. Founders that whenever any form of government becomes destructive in its ends as is the case of the dnc it is not only the sacred right of the people to abolish its irresponsible duty. Thank you. Thank you very much. We do have a vote on the floor, recorded vote on hr 271. Well take a very, very brief recess, subject to the call of the chair, and then reconvene our hearing. I apologize for the delay. With a busy week ahead for congress, our live coverage includes the Senate Banking committee tomorrow considering Jarome Powell as reserve chair. Also tomorrow, the Senate Budget Committee Reviews its tax reform bill. See that live at 2 30 p. M. Eastern on cspan3. On wednesday, the Senate Health Committee Considers the nomination of alex azar, president trumps pick to replace tom price. Live coverage at 9 30 a. M. Eastern on cspan3. Also on wednesday, the house takes up a bill requiring members of the house and senate to take Sexual Harassment training. Political strategists discuss the impact of social media on campaigns and elections and whether the technologies have added to the polarization in politics. Balancing the protection of free speech rights with the policing of socalled fake news content on their platforms. This 50minute forum was hosted by the university of Southern California in los angeles. Thanks a lot and thanks for the institute for hosting this event. I hope you enjoy it and continue to participate in the events. So we have an exciting panel today. I think we should go ahead and get started with some questions. Many of the questions were prepared in advance, and so they are ill start with some questions about news in this current year. Its only been a year since the president ial election, but it seems very hard to remember a