Genocide. For any country that has been characterized by brutal misrule, we are seeing for the first time sectarian divisions such as never existed before. Economic tensions have always existed but it has given way to a butchery based on religious and ethnic affiliation. This is happening in a time when we mark the 20th anniversary of the genocide in rwanda. When that country was being turned into a killing field, the world stood idly by. Intelligence information could have prevented or mitigated the rwandan genocide. I held a series of meetings on da and we on rwan heard from people who said they had the information on hand. Upwards of one Million People were slaughtered and with that information, that could have been prevented or at least largely mitigated. When the blood stopped flowing, the world looked at the corpses piled high and was shocked. Never again, was the phrase on everyones lips. It is happening again. The question before us today is whether the phrase never again is one that we simply used to Pay Lip Service while nothing is being done, and whether or not we are going to act decisively. We have two distinguished witnesses. Acting secretary jackson and ann richards, assistant secretary for population refugees and migration. While the state department sending to people to testify is ing, the question i will be asking them to answer is, not what are we doing but are we doing enough . In 2012, the administration created an atrocities prevention board following a president ial studies directive which stated that preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a Core National security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States. The apb has proposed to provide Early Warning of mass atrocities to stop such atrocities. Where has the board then . Did we take our eyes off the ball . Perhaps we are confronted by too many other crises. While we have taken some steps including authorizing 170 mine Million Dollars in peacekeeping are such resources adequate . We have a situation in a country where the population is roughly 5. 2 Million People. 1. 3 million are at risk of starvation while 2. 5 million are estimated in need of other forms of assistance. That is nearly half the country. E are seeing ethnic cleansing whole villages are being emptied and the countryside laid waste. There are more than 600,000 displaced persons plus more than 320,000 others who are refugees in neighboring countries. The situation has worsened. The total number of those displaced has doubled since last november when it was estimated at 460,000. For the numbers killed are hard to come by. We hope our witnesses will be able to shed light on that. We are told that 2000 people have been killed since december alone. I believe that number is probably a conservative estimate. What reports we do receive our bloodcurdling. Human rights watch reported on an attack of a muslim neighborhood. In the Early Morning hours, socalled antibalata forces. A father recounted how at the family was fleeing he saw his 10yearold boy shot in the leg and fall down. The child was set upon by men with machetes who hacked at him until he was dead. , forces cameer upon a group of muslims who were in hiding. They separated the men from the women and small children and executed the men. Machetesm have a using and shooting those who laid wounded. The ca are has been beset by violence. How did the country get to this point . What began as a political coup detat in march 2013 against the onmer president quickly took religious and ethnic overtones. As we detailed in our march , he came to power with the military backing of the militia of some 25,000 man, up to 90,000 of whom up to 90 of whom came from chad. They did not speak the local muslim in a are nation that is over 80 christian. They destroyed churches, executed priests, stirred up sectarian hatred where little to none had previously existed. What we began to see happening last november was a reactionary backlash by selfdefense gangs. Since then, retaliatory outrages have escalated and muslim civilians who had nothing to do with this became targets. , wholecase of neighborhoods in the capital city and whole villages have been cleansed of Muslim Populations. As we will hear from our witnesses, there are numerous causes contributing including a fight to control. There are economic motives at work. Insofar as conflict can be described as religious on one religiousis also true fervor and dedication that provides the greatest hope for peace and reconciliation. Some of you recall a few months ago, three great religious leaders came to washington, meeting with people on both sides of the aisle and you and officials. Ae was a muslim, the other christian. The three spoke and i met with them as did so many others and was absolutely impressed with their fervor to bring peace and reconciliation to their country. Just like the christians or muslims are trying to do i guess the boko haram. Greg simkins and i met with the iman there as well as the catholic archbishop who have joined arms to say no to the extremism on either side. We are seeing the same positive interreligious dialogue and cooperation occurring here in the car. A storyi want to relate about another man of god. Ago, it was holy week. A bishop who testified at our hearing was visiting an outlying parish along with three of his priests. He was stopped on the road by gunmen whose leader had occupied his city. He accused the bishop of having thwarted his plans and working with international peacekeepers. He sentenced him and the other priests to execution. The gunmen remove his episcopal ring and the large cross he had around his neck. You might remember, he wore that cross around his neck. The four men were placed in a truck and driven north to the border with chad. On the way to the gallows, their truck was stopped by gunmen. Time, commanded by another warlord. The bishop provided for over 35,000 displaced people in his parish. He cared for them. He ordered the bishop and the priest freed. They were helicoptered back to his home parish in time for good friday. The story really hit home with me and im sure it will with others who know him. Others someone who i and shared coffee with, prayed with him and heard him give powerful testimony. His clarion call was to the International Community to get he said, weeepers need peacekeepers who will stop carnage and do it immediately. I am grateful that he survived to continue doing his great lifesaving and life enhancing work. It underscores the precarious nature and how everyone, muslim, christian, are at risk. They are all at risk in the car. We need to redouble our efforts. I think our witnesses. I yield to my friend and colleague for opening comments. Thank you, chairman smith. Thank you for your leadership of this committee. I would also like to thank our distinguished witnesses including ambassador jackson and ann richards from the u. S. Department of state as well as a range of experts from prominent nongovernmental development and advert advocacy organizations. I look forward to hearing your perspectives on the ongoing crisis including getting an update on humanitarian situation in the u. S. And International Efforts to address the challenges including the collaboration with the African Union and what is at stake if efforts to quell the conflict are not implemented with sufficient resources. In april, i had the honor of traveling to rwanda and the Central African republic as part of the president ial delegation to attend the 20th anniversary of the rwandan genocide. While on the Central African journey, ig of the witnessed much of the poverty, chaos and lack of Economic Opportunities which we know gave rise to much of the current conflict. In addition to attending the rwandan genocide memorial, when we went to the car, it is my understanding in traveling with ambassador power that it was the first time a cabinet level official had ever traveled to the nation. We met with a group of muslim and christians and it was really just tragic to hear their testimonies and stories. There was one woman who spoke with us and talk about how she lost both of her children. Her son left that afternoon to go to the market and never came home. Her daughter was found murdered. She was a muslim woman who was now afraid to leave her house. Mr. Chairman, you have on many about thetalked persecution of christians. Here we have a situation where there is christianled militia attacking a Muslim Population. It is reported that over 90 of the population has been driven out of the country. When we met with the president of the car, even she talked about how her own security was not stable. She was frightened. Many of you here who are going to give testimony were part of that delegation. Listening to her talk about her own situation was frightening. While much has been made of the religious layers of the conflict, the differences in ideology were not the origin of the crisis which reflects complex tensions over access to resources and issues of national identity. You had the hearing and talked about the religious leaders that were here, as an example of how we know that leadership there really do want to resolve the situation in a peaceful way. As we prepare to hear from todays witnesses, i hope we can learn critical lessons. When we do listen to the witnesses, i am hoping that you will provide guidance for us in terms of anything else we can do in congress. Toalways, i am committed working towards this end and look forward to working with my colleagues to find a peaceful resolution. I think my good friend for her statement. I have. This committee since 94. When i did another chairmanship, and he sectarian violence is supposed to be reported and fought against. I have tried to do is emphasize as that was happening when muslims were targeted simply because they were muslim and try to make clear today that both sides of extremism that are slaughtering people because of their religious faith or ethnicity ought to be condemned and held to account. Colleague thatmy we should have a war crimes tribunal. That ad hoc for both sides, those killing christians and muslims. I would like to yield to my friend. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Im anxious to hear the witnesses. Ok. To say mercy to our witnesses for being here. But the deputy chief of mission at the u. S. Embassy in morocco and senegal. It also work in zimbabwe and canada. Oversight in promoting democracy after the anniversary of 9 11 and his full resume will remain a part of the record and is a very distinguished one at that. Richard is assistant secretary in the state Department Migration bureau the position that has been held since 2012. Previous Government Service includes time in the state department, peace corps, and she has worked with the council on foreign relations. She was part of a team that founded the International Crisis group, a group we hear from often on this committee. If you could begin . Smith andou, chairman other members of the subcommittee, for this opportunity to testify about the Central African republic. Concernedown more with the interreligious violence that continues throughout the Central African republic. The u. S. Remains committed to working with the c. A. R. Tensions in all authority and the International Community to end the violence and build a transitional rss leading to the establishment of a legitimate elected government in c. A. R. In the process of taking political power from former c. A. R. President , several have destroyed the tradition and the amicable relationship between c. A. R. Christian and muslims. Fellowship fighters were little more than mercenaries and bandits and criminals who have sustained themselves by looting, killing, kidnapping, and pillaging the country. It is 8595 christian. Was not seen as a religion this Movement Based christians. This led to the establishment of christian selfdefense melissa militias. The man began to engage in revenge killing. First against rebels and then against presumed supporters and muslimiminately against and the religious sites. Attemptedm president resignation occurred only after his role had bankrupted the government and left a path of destruction and lawlessness that pervaded the entire country today. U. N. Agencies and human rights organizations have estimated that over 600 have been displaced since the beginning of this rebellion and 12. Since december 25, we have three at least 2000 people have been killed and another 100,000 have fled the country just in december. We are particularly concerned that the imminent threat against muslim civilians has forced many to abandon their homes and communities and to seek help from the u. N. Humanitarian agencies, the African Union, and French Forces to relocate within the Central African republic or to neighboring countries. Just last weekend at the urgent ,equest of muslim civilians peacekeeping forces transported over 1200 people to towns in the northern part of the country. As soon as those folks departed, the remaining local population attacked and destroyed the mosque and looted the homes of those who had left. This fourth relocation of muslims from their homes and communities is deeply disturbing and fundamentally alters the religious composition and character of the towns and regions. The violence unleashed and then compounded by the malicious may have permanently changed c. A. R. The start tradition of religious tolerance and coexistence. In one area alone, its estimated 50007000 muslims remain at an estimated population of approximately 100,000. Mosques are the 37 still standing. Have traveled on april 7. I will defer to my colleague for additional comments about the humanitarian conditions that she witnessed and are humanitarian response. If you will allow me, i would like to explain just what the u. S. Government has done over the past month since her visit. And end the communal violence. The department of state Senior Adviser david brown is here today and let interface delegation of religious leaders from the United States to demonstrate solidarity amongst religious communities and promote reconciliation. In a show of support for this reconciliation, it interface participants from the c. A. R. , as well as representatives from the Government Civil Society and ed groups signed a renouncing violence and encouraging a dialogue to mitigate tension and laid the foundation to renew peaceful coexistence. On april 9, ambassador to that nice and gnashing ambassador to the United Nations the ambassador to the United Nations made a second visit to the c. A. R. A Ranking Member participated in the delegation visits and witnessed firsthand the dire conditions in the country. During the visit, the ambassador and the assistant secretary and representative met with transitional president and commanders of the 7000 strong african unit and french peacekeeping forces and members of Civil Society to express the continued and unwavering determination to end the violence and support the establishment of the jim mcgovern. Theledged to work with government and that me to help the administration. Toresponse to the request specifically work to reestablish local Law Enforcement and Transitional Justice and accountability to end impunity that is interviewed and violence against civilians, we are pleased that several countries in the region, the world bank, the European Union, and others ive come father forward to provide basic Government Services and support alternative Work Programs that would otherwise help put c. A. R. Citizens back to where. We commend the leadership of the African Union and the efforts with support from the french, we also agree that you and secretary ban kimoon assessment the military keeping force is needed to address the crisis in a comprehensive way. On april 10, United States joined the other Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution 2149 that establishes that you and peacekeeping in the Central African republic with up personnel,ilitary 1800, and 20 correctional officers. They will have the responsibility not only to protect civilians, but also to support the reestablishment of government, election, reparation, and demobilization of combatants, protection of human rights, and dependability for human rights abuses. The United States will continue to reinforce an advance that transition in september and maintain and increase their ability to protect civilians. 100ve committed to million to support them, including providing airlifts for over 1700 these keepers to date, nonlethal equipment, and 200 additional vehicles. [applause] 37 vehicles have been delivered to increase the mobility of troops on the ground. On april 10, the United States also announced additional humanitarian assistance to c. A. R. And bringing the 1, 2013ce since october to 67 million. To support their because silly and peace building, he had committed an additional seven one 5 million to nongovernmental organizations to support the courageous work with c. A. R. Leaders who are promoting conflict resolution initiatives to encourage peace, forgiveness, and nonviolence. Believe that it is important to hold accountable all individuals responsible for atrocities being committed. We are actively working with the United Nations security