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Zaire: Statement on U.S. Policy
Zaire: Statement on U.S. Policy
Date Distributed (ymd): 970329
Document reposted by APIC
The following "Statement on U.S. Policy toward the Crisis in
Zaire," was prepared at a meeting hosted by Salih Booker of
the African Studies Program of the Council on Foreign
Relations. The Council on Foreign Relations does not take
positions on issues, and all participants at the meeting were
there in their individual capacity. The statement is
currently being circulated for organizational and individual
endorsements, and will be presented at a press conference on
Tuesday, April 1. The statement has been endorsed by Imani
Countess, Executive Director of the Africa Policy Information
Center and the Washington Office on Africa. A list of
endorsers will be made available later.
To submit an endorsement or for more information, please be in
contact directly with Salih Booker or Marilyn Gayton, African
Studies Program, Council on Foreign Relations, 2400 N St. NW,
Washington, DC 20037; Tel: 202-862-7793; Fax: 202-862-7786;
E-mail: [email protected].
Cover letter from Salih Booker
March 28, 1997
Dear Colleague:
I invite you to review the attached statement on U.S. policy
in response to the crisis in Zaire and to consider lending
your support and your signature to this statement which calls
for a new U.S. policy approach.
At an emergency meeting organized by the Africa Studies
Program, on March 26th, a diverse group of Africanists,
foreign policy analysts, and representatives of human rights,
development, humanitarian, and church organizations produced
the attached statement on U.S. policy toward Zaire. We are
currently seeking additional signatories to help develop
public debate on the matter.
We have become alarmed by the Administration=s failure to
recognize and act upon the important opportunity that now
exists to help democratic forces in Zaire shape a transition
out of the current crisis and accelerate the departure from
power of Zaire=s ailing dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko. A failure
to act more assertively now will only invite deterioration of
the current conflict into a far more dangerous and destructive
war, destabilizing much of central Africa. The United States
also has an important historical responsibility in Zaire and
a moral obligation to play a positive leadership role in
support of a democratic solution.
We are organizing a press conference in Washington to release
this statement early next week.
Please add your support to this urgent effort.
Sincerely,
Salih Booker
(Note: We will continue to collect signatures beyond the press
conference.)
STATEMENT ON U.S. POLICY TOWARD THE CRISIS IN ZAIRE
The government of Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire has systematically
violated the rights and undermined the security of Zaire's 46
million citizens. The Mobutu regime has proven itself
unwilling and unable to honestly negotiate a peaceful
resolution to the country's long-standing political and
humanitarian crises. It, therefore, does not have legitimacy
to act on behalf of Zairians today.
The U.S. -- working with concerned African nations and others
in the international community -- should immediately take
steps to support a negotiated transition. This transition
should be founded upon the creation of a legitimate,
representative and inclusive, transitional government of
national unity that can create the indispensable environment
needed to prepare the ground for truly democratic elections,
as well as to meet the full humanitarian assistance
requirements in Zaire.
Such a broad-based transitional government of national unity
would require the predominant participation of the ADFL, the
Sacred Union, and all other political forces which are opposed
to the Mobutu regime and committed to a democratic Zaire, as
well as representatives of civil society. [ADFL is the
Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo
Zaire; the Sacred Union is the Union SacrJe de l'Opposition
Radicale et AlliJs-USORAL (Sacred Union of the Radical
Opposition and Allies).] hese participants could decide to
include those elements of the current regime who are prepared
to support truly democratic change.
Establishing such a legitimate transitional authority is the
key to creating a democratic political process and meeting
humanitarian needs. Achieving this objective should receive
the highest priority because it is the indispensable
precondition for realizing all other objectives including
most of those enumerated in the United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1097. The UN resolution proposes a peace
plan for solving the crisis (i.e. ending the fighting,
withdrawal of foreign forces, recognition of the country's
territorial integrity, the electoral process, and the
convening of an international conference on peace, security
and development in the Great Lakes region).
While the success of the rebellion in Zaire provides a
long-awaited opportunity to end the bankrupt Mobutu
dictatorship, there is great danger that further
militarization will exacerbate divisions among anti-Mobutu
forces and make democracy less likely. In addition, prolonged
fighting will raise the already large toll of lives lost and
could even lead to a "scorched earth" destruction of Kinshasa.
The U.S. has been a major supporter of Mobutu's Government
over the decades. For the past seven years Washington has
failed to develop an effective strategy to achieve its stated
goal of democratization. Today we need to go beyond the
current ineffectual policy of words and principles to actively
engage with African and other governments in finding a
non-violent democratic solution that removes not only Mobutu
but Mobutuist tyranny from Zaire. Given Zaire's enormous needs
for economic and political reconstruction, the international
community has significant leverage, but it needs to be used
now. The U.S. should be prepared to commit significant
resources toward the reconstruction of Zaire. Such support,
however, should be contingent upon the creation of a truly
democratic transition process, leading to the creation of a
truly democratic Zaire.
Finally, the U.S. should also address immediate humanitarian
requirements in Zaire by securing the cooperation of all
parties concerned in meeting such needs.
Response form
To:Salih Booker
Council on Foreign Relations
Fax:202-862-7786
E-mail: [email protected]
[ ] I agree to become a signator of the attached statement.
List my name and affiliation as follows:
Organization for identification purposes only? [ ] YES [ ] NO
[ ] I do NOT wish to be a signator of the attached statement.
Please indicate any other activities you and/or your
organization will be able to undertake in the coming weeks.
Please indicate your email address below.
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the
Africa Policy Information Center (APIC), the educational
affiliate of the Washington Office on Africa. APIC's primary
objective is to widen the policy debate in the United States
around African issues and the U.S. role in Africa, by
concentrating on providing accessible policy-relevant
information and analysis usable by a wide range of groups and
individuals.
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