Congo's Quest for Liberation Continues

Posted on June 30, 2010

By Bahati Ntama Jacques, Policy Analyst, and Beth Tuckey, executive intern with Africa Action

Congo has long been the focus of resource exploitation. The first era of colonization in Africa, beginning in the mid-1880s, was most pronounced in this central African country. Belgium's King Leopold brutalized the population in his quest for rubber and riches, leaving a legacy of natural resource exploitation by white Europeans in the heart of Africa.

Today, at the 50^th anniversary of Congo's independence, the country continues to be a source of wealth for the world, yet the Congolese people live in poverty. Like many African nations, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is suffering under this new era of neocolonialism, where natural resources belong not to those who live on the land but to those with power and access to global markets.

The pursuit of true independence and liberation in Congo will continue until foreign nations cease their policies of exploitation.

Read more: Congo's Quest for Liberation Continues

Peter Erlinder Released! Thank Members of Congress who acted

Thank you for raising your voice on behalf of human rights and rule of law last week by speaking out about Peter Erlinder's arrest and imprisonment. As you may know, largely thanks to pressure from around the world, last week Erlinder was released on medical grounds, though the charges against him have not yet been dropped. 

Help AFJN thank those in Congress who made a difference! Congresswoman Ms. Betty McCollum [D-MN4] introduced  H. Res. 1426 on June 8th, a resolution urging the Rwandan government and President Paul Kagame to immediately release human rights lawyer Professor Peter Erlinder from jail . This resolution was decisive and delivered a clear message to Paul Kagame that the US will not tolerate another dictator violating human rights and basic political freedoms.  The resolution pointed out that since year 200, Rwanda received "$1,034,000,000 billion in United States taxpayer-funded foreign assistance''and that "an additional $240,200,000 is proposed in the President's fiscal year 2011 budget."  Click here to learn about current situation in Rwanda.

Please consider calling the following members of Congress to thank them for their leadership in so quickly co- sponsoring H.Res. 1426 and to encourage them to continue to speak out on the human rights situation in Rwanda. Call today!

• Keith Ellison [D-MN5], at 202-224-4755
• Zoe Lofgren [D-CA16], at 202-225-3072
• Fortney Stark [D-CA13] at 202-224-5065
• Betty McCollum [D-MN4]at 202-225-1968

Take further action! Mr. Erlinder was jailed while in Rwanda to represent his client - opposition leader Ms. Victoire Ingabire who remains under house arrest and falsely accused of genocide ideology.  She is only one among many unnamed victims of the heavy hand leadership of President Paul Kagame.  Congress can help end the ongoing political crisis in Rwanda by taking a stand.  Click here to sign a petition calling on the U.S. government to speak out about Rwanda, or call your own Representative or Senator on the issue (look up their information here).

Script: Hello, my name is __________, and I am calling because I am concerned about the ongoing political crisis in Rwanda. It is clear that President Paul Kagame is the only presidential candidate in August because of the crackdown of opposition leadership ahead of elections and that the lack of democracy and poltiical freedom of any kind is a reality for the majority of Rwandans. The U.S government has not sufficiently responded.  I kindly ask that Representative/Senator_________ show leadership on this issue by:

*Calling for all charges against Professor Peter Erlinder to be dropped.
*Working to withhold any funding to Rwanda particularly the election funding.
*Encourage the U.S. government to review U.S -Rwanda relationship in the light of American democratic values against the heavy handed leadership of Paul Kagame and his record in the great lakes region.

Thank you for taking action! To learn more about AFJN's adovcacy efforts around Rwnada, click here. Or, Click here to learn more about Rwanda the Rwandan genocide.

D.R.Congo’s Conflict-Free Minerals: Advocacy priorities

Posted on June 9, 2010

By Bahati Ntama Jacques, Policy Analyst

 A strong legislative campaign for buyers and electronic companies to comply with conflict-free mineral trade is well underway.  In 2009, Representative Jim McDermott and Senator Samuel Brownback introduced, respectively, The Conflict Mineral Act H.R. 4128, a bill “to improve transparency and reduce trade in conflict minerals” and The Congo Conflict Mineral Act, S.891, a bill “to require annual disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission of activities involving columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, and wolframite from the Democratic Republic of Congo.” These are bills designed to promote transparency and accountability in mineral supply chains, which often include armed groups who profit off illegal or stolen minerals, and thus they aim to help break the line between minerals and violence in Congo.

Read more: D.R.Congo’s Conflict-Free Minerals: Advocacy priorities

AFJN supports Conflict Minerals Act ammendment to financial refrom

The Congo Conflict Minerals Act (S. 891), a bill promoting transparency and accountability in mineral supply chaings and thus aiming to help break the line between minerals and violence in Congo, is moving forward! Creative advocates and dedicated Hill staffers have found a way to include the bill in the larger piece of legislation for financial reform. This week, the committee voted to in favor of Amendment 3997, which attaches the language of the Congo Conflict Minerals Act to the bigger bill.

AFJN and numerous other organizations have been active in following this process - look for an update if financial reform passes! Read the sign-on letter in support of the amendment below:

Read more: AFJN supports Conflict Minerals Act ammendment to financial refrom