III 

Calendar No. 93 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 144 

Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

and the need for international efforts supporting long-term peace, stability, and observance of human rights. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 16, 2013 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. 

CARDIN, Mr. CASEY, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. 

WYDEN, Mr. MERKLEY, and Mrs. SHAHEEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JUNE 25, 2013 

Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, with an amendment 

[Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

RESOLUTION 

Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic 

of the Congo and the need for international efforts supporting long-term peace, stability, and observance of 

human rights. 

Whereas, since the 1990s, an estimated 5,000,000 people 

have died due to repeated cycles of conflict, lack of governance, and atrocities in the Democratic Republic of the 

Congo, particularly those in North and South Kivu provVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:46 Jun 25, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR144.RS SR144

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inces, and, since the beginning of 2012, more than 

2,000,000 people have been displaced; 

Whereas the United Nations and humanitarian groups have 

reported staggering rates of sexual violence indicating 

tens of thousands of cases perpetrated by security forces 

of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the 

Congo and non-state armed groups, which continue to operate with nearly total impunity; 

Whereas human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic 

of the Congo have been subject to intimidation and attack; 

Whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s wealth of 

natural resources, including minerals, have been a key 

driver of instability and violence; 

Whereas the deeply flawed November 2011 presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo presented 

significant political, economic, and social challenges, and 

provincial and local elections still have not been conducted despite plans to hold such elections in 2012; 

Whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains subject to recurring conflict despite one of the world’s longest-running, largest, and most expensive international 

peacekeeping operations and extensive bilateral and multilateral efforts to address longstanding humanitarian crises, forge lasting peace, and pursue security sector reform and accountability; 

Whereas members of civil society and political parties from 

both the majority and the opposition in the Democratic 

Republic of the Congo created the National Preparatory 

Committee (Comite ́ National Pre ́paratoire or CNP) to lay 

the groundwork for convening a national forum and diaVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:46 Jun 25, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR144.RS SR144

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logue with the goal of putting an end to the multifaceted 

crisis that afflicts the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 

Whereas, on November 15, 2012, the United Nations Group 

of Experts provided compelling evidence that the crisis in 

eastern Congo had been fueled and exacerbated by regional actors, including through provision of significant 

military and logistical assistance and of operational and 

political support to the armed group known as the M23; 

Whereas the United Nations and United States Government 

have imposed sanctions on the M23 and its leaders for 

human rights atrocities including rape, massacres, and 

the recruitment and physical and psychological torture of 

child soldiers; 

Whereas, on March 18, 2013, International Criminal Court 

(ICC) indictee and leader of a faction of the M23 rebel 

group, Bosco Ntaganda, turned himself in to the United 

States Embassy in Kigali, asking to be transferred to the 

ICC in The Hague, where he voluntarily surrendered on 

March 22, 2013; 

Whereas the Lord’s Resistance Army continues to perpetrate 

attacks against civilian populations in affected areas of 

northeastern Congo, creating widespread insecurity and 

displacement; 

Whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and 

9 other countries on February 24, 2013, signed the 

Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework that provides for a comprehensive approach to the ongoing conflict; 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2098 on March 28, 2013, extending the mandate 

of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission 


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(MONUSCO) and authorizing the creation of an intervention brigade tasked with neutralizing armed groups; 

and 

Whereas, on March 18, 2013, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon appointed former President of Ireland 

and High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, to serve as Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends United Nations Secretary-Gen3 eral Ban Ki-Moon’s commitment and leadership to 

4 resolving the crisis in the Democratic Republic of 

5 the Congo and his appointment of Mary Robinson as 

6 United Nations Special Envoy to the Great Lakes; 

7 (2) supports the commitments agreed to by the 

8 signatories of the Peace, Security and Cooperation 

9 Framework (in this resolution, the ‘‘Framework’’), 

10 and encourages them to work closely with the United 

11 Nations, the African Union, the International Con12 ference on the Great Lakes Region, the Southern 

13 African Development Community, as guarantors of 

14 the Framework, and the United Nations Special 

15 Envoy, MONUSCO, and relevant international bod16 ies and governments to develop, implement, and en17 force a comprehensive peace process for the region; 

18 (3) notes that the adoption of the Framework, 

19 the appointment of Mary Robinson as United NaVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:46 Jun 25, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\SR144.RS SR144

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1 tions Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, and the ex2 panded MONUSCO mandate provide an opportunity 

3 to make meaningful and sustained progress toward 

4 ending the recurrent cycles of violence in the Demo5 cratic Republic of the Congo, especially in eastern 

6 Congo; 

7 (4) urges the signatories of the Framework and 

8 the international community to engage and consult 

9 with representatives of the Government of the 

10 Democratic Republic of the Congo and civil society 

11 representatives engaged in the ongoing effort to con12 vene an inclusive national forum and dialogue; 

13 (5) urges the President to appoint a Special 

14 Envoy to the Great Lakes in the near-term in order 

15 to represent the United States in international and 

16 regional efforts to end the conflict and secure sus17 tainable peace, stability, and safety for the people of 

18 the Democratic Republic of the Congo by— 

19 (A) working with United Nations Special 

20 Envoy Mary Robinson and the broader inter21 national community to promote a transparent 

22 and inclusive process to implement the regional 

23 and national commitments under the Frame24 work, including the development of clear benchVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:46 Jun 25, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\SR144.RS SR144

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•SRES 144 RS 

1 marks for progress and appropriate follow-on 

2 measures; 

3 (B) strengthening international efforts to 

4 mobilize and support justice for victims and ac5 countability for perpetrators of sexual and gen6 der based violence and other human rights 

7 abuses in the Democratic Republic of the 

8 Congo; 

9 (C) expanding efforts to develop conflict10 free and responsible mining and supply chains 

11 for the region’s vast mineral resources, in co12 ordination with other government, private in13 dustry, and international and local organiza14 tions; 

15 (D) coordinating with international and re16 gional partners to expand unhindered access to 

17 life-saving humanitarian assistance to popu18 lations in need, particularly displaced persons 

19 and conflict-affected communities; 

20 (E) pressing for fulfillment of the commit21 ment of the Government of the Democratic Re22 public of the Congo, as well as other regional 

23 actors, to ending the threat posed by the M23, 

24 the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the Demo25 cratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda 


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•SRES 144 RS 

1 (FDLR), and other armed groups in the Great 

2 Lakes region, and to facilitate enhanced coordi3 nation of regional efforts to counter these 

4 groups; and 

5 (F) mobilizing and facilitating United 

6 States and international support for electoral 

7 reforms in the Democratic Republic of the 

8 Congo, with the goal of encouraging free, fair, 

9 and credible provincial and local elections in the 

10 near-term, and presidential elections in 2016; 

11 (6) calls on the President to support the cre12 ation of a World Bank Fund for the Great Lakes 

13 Region, as part of a coordinated international invest14 ment and development strategy aimed at deepening 

15 regional economic integration and stability and 

16 leveraging reform; 

17 (7) calls on the President, in close coordination 

18 with international and regional partners, to work 

19 with the Government of the Democratic Republic of 

20 the Congo to develop and implement recommenda21 tions to improve accountability for serious violations 

22 of international humanitarian law and human rights 

23 abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in24 cluding by considering imposition of sanctions au25 thorized under section 1284 of the National Defense 


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1 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 

2 112–239; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note); 

3 (8) calls on governments of the Great Lakes re4 gion of Africa to immediately halt and prevent any 

5 and all forms of support to non-state armed groups, 

6 including support provided by individuals inde7 pendent of government policy; 

8 (9) calls on all relevant nations, including des9 tination and transit countries, to increase coopera10 tion on ending the illicit trade in conflict minerals, 

11 wildlife, and wildlife parts, which continues to fuel 

12 and fund violence and to deprive citizens of economic 

13 opportunity in the Democratic Republic of the 

14 Congo and the broader region; 

15 (10) calls on the signatories of the Framework 

16 to cooperate in the arrest and prosecution of those 

17 responsible for violating international humanitarian 

18 law and for serious human rights violations, includ19 ing gender-based violence; 

20 (11) calls on the Government of the Democratic 

21 Republic of the Congo to engage in meaningful and 

22 inclusive electoral reforms, prepare and hold impar23 tially administered local and provincial elections as 

24 soon as technically possible, continue to participate 

25 in ongoing efforts to provide a platform for inclusive 


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•SRES 144 RS 

1 dialogue within the Democratic Republic of the 

2 Congo to address critical internal political issues, 

3 and strengthen processes of state institution build4 ing; 

5 (12) calls on the Government of the Democratic 

6 Republic of the Congo, in coordination with the 

7 international community, to undertake significant 

8 security sector reform, which is a necessary compo9 nent for lasting stability, and renewed disarmament, 

10 demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) efforts that 

11 ensure that any rebel troops, especially commanders, 

12 responsible for human rights violations are held ac13 countable and not reintegrated into the Armed 

14 Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

15 (FARDC); and 

16 (13) urges the Government of the Democratic 

17 Republic of the Congo to improve efforts to protect 

18 civilians from armed groups, in cooperation with 

19 MONUSCO and the African Union’s Regional Co20 operation Initiative on the LRA. 

21 That the Senate— 

22 (1) commends United Nations Secretary-General 

23 Ban Ki-Moon’s commitment and leadership to resolv24 ing the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 


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•SRES 144 RS 

1 and his appointment of Mary Robinson as United 

2 Nations Special Envoy to the Great Lakes; 

3 (2) supports the commitments agreed to by the 

4 signatories of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (in 

5 this resolution, the ‘‘Framework’’), and encourages 

6 them to work closely with the United Nations, the Af7 rican Union, the International Conference on the 

8 Great Lakes Region, the Southern African Develop9 ment Community, as guarantors of the Framework, 

10 and the United Nations Special Envoy, MONUSCO, 

11 and relevant international bodies and governments to 

12 develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive 

13 peace process for the region; 

14 (3) notes that the adoption of the Framework, the 

15 appointment of Mary Robinson as United Nations 

16 Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, and the expanded 

17 MONUSCO mandate provide an opportunity to make 

18 meaningful and sustained progress toward ending the 

19 recurrent cycles of violence in the Democratic Repub20 lic of the Congo, especially in eastern Congo; 

21 (4) urges the signatories of the Framework and 

22 the international community to engage and consult 

23 with representatives of the Government of the Demo24 cratic Republic of the Congo and civil society repVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:46 Jun 25, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\SR144.RS SR144

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•SRES 144 RS 

1 resentatives engaged in the ongoing effort to convene 

2 an inclusive national forum and dialogue; 

3 (5) welcomes the announcement by World Bank 

4 President Jim Yong Kim of $1,000,000,000 in pro5 posed new funding to help the Democratic Republic of 

6 the Congo and other countries in the Great Lakes re7 gion to provide better health and education services, 

8 generate more cross-border trade, and to fund 

9 hydroelectricity projects in support of the Framework 

10 agreement; 

11 (6) welcomes the appointment of Russ Feingold 

12 as the United States Special Envoy for the African 

13 Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of 

14 the Congo and urges him to advance United States, 

15 international, and regional efforts to end the conflict 

16 and secure sustainable peace, stability, and safety for 

17 the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

18 by— 

19 (A) working with United Nations Special 

20 Envoy Mary Robinson and the broader inter21 national community to promote a transparent 

22 and inclusive process to implement the regional 

23 and national commitments under the Frame24 work, including the development of clear benchVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:46 Jun 25, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\SR144.RS SR144

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•SRES 144 RS 

1 marks for progress and appropriate follow-on 

2 measures; 

3 (B) strengthening international efforts to 

4 mobilize and support justice for victims and ac5 countability for perpetrators of sexual and gen6 der based violence and other human rights abuses 

7 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 

8 (C) expanding efforts to develop conflict-free 

9 and responsible mining and supply chains for 

10 the region’s vast mineral resources, in coordina11 tion with other government, private industry, 

12 and international and local organizations; 

13 (D) coordinating with international and re14 gional partners to expand unhindered access to 

15 life-saving humanitarian assistance to popu16 lations in need, particularly displaced persons 

17 and conflict-affected communities; 

18 (E) pressing for fulfillment of the commit19 ment of the Government of the Democratic Re20 public of the Congo, as well as other regional ac21 tors, to ending the threat posed by the M23, the 

22 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the Democratic 

23 Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), 

24 and other armed groups in the Great Lakes reVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:46 Jun 25, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\SR144.RS SR144

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•SRES 144 RS 

1 gion, and to facilitate enhanced coordination of 

2 regional efforts to counter these groups; and 

3 (F) mobilizing and facilitating United 

4 States and international support for electoral re5 forms in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 

6 with the goal of encouraging free, fair, and cred7 ible provincial and local elections in the near8 term, and presidential elections in 2016; 

9 (7) calls on the President, in close coordination 

10 with international and regional partners, to work 

11 with the Government of the Democratic Republic of 

12 the Congo to develop and implement recommendations 

13 to improve accountability for serious violations of 

14 international humanitarian law and human rights 

15 abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in16 cluding by considering imposition of sanctions au17 thorized under section 1284 of the National Defense 

18 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 

19 112–239; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note); 

20 (8) calls on governments of the Great Lakes re21 gion of Africa to immediately halt and prevent any 

22 and all forms of support to non-state armed groups, 

23 including support provided by individuals inde24 pendent of government policy; 


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•SRES 144 RS 

1 (9) calls on all relevant nations, including des2 tination and transit countries, to increase cooperation 

3 on ending the illicit trade in conflict minerals, wild4 life, and wildlife parts, which continues to fuel and 

5 fund violence and to deprive citizens of economic op6 portunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

7 and the broader region; 

8 (10) calls on the signatories of the Framework to 

9 cooperate in the arrest and prosecution of those re10 sponsible for violating international humanitarian 

11 law and for serious human rights violations, includ12 ing gender-based violence; 

13 (11) calls on the Government of the Democratic 

14 Republic of the Congo to engage in meaningful and 

15 inclusive electoral reforms, prepare and hold impar16 tially administered local and provincial elections as 

17 soon as technically possible, continue to participate 

18 in ongoing efforts to provide a platform for inclusive 

19 dialogue within the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

20 to address critical internal political issues at the local 

21 and national levels, and strengthen processes of state 

22 institution building; 

23 (12) calls on the Government of the Democratic 

24 Republic of the Congo, in coordination with the inter25 national community, to undertake significant secuVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:46 Jun 25, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\SR144.RS SR144

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1 rity sector reform, which is a necessary component for 

2 lasting stability, and renewed disarmament, demobili3 zation, and reintegration (DDR) efforts that ensure 

4 that any rebel troops, especially commanders, respon5 sible for human rights violations are held accountable 

6 and not reintegrated into the Armed Forces of the 

7 Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC); and 

8 (13) urges the Government of the Democratic Re9 public of the Congo to improve efforts to protect civil10 ians from armed groups, in cooperation with 

11 MONUSCO and the African Union’s Regional Co12 operation Initiative on the LRA. 


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Calendar No. 93 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 144 

RESOLUTION 

Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Democratic 

bility, and observance of human rights. national efforts supporting long-term peace, staRepublic of the Congo and the need for interJUNE 25, 2013 

Reported with an amendment 


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