S. 2475

One Hundred Third Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the twenty-fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-four

An Act

To authorize assistance to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘African Conflict Resolution Act’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF POLICY.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) It is in the national interest of the United States to

help build African capability in conflict resolution. A relatively

small investment of assistance in promoting African conflict

resolution—

(A) would reduce the enormous human suffering which

is caused by wars in Africa;

(B) would help the United States avoid huge future

expenditures necessitated by Somalia-like humanitarian

disasters; and

(C) would reduce the need for United Nations intervention as African institutions develop the ability to resolve

African conflicts.

(2) Africa, to a greater extent than any other continent,

is afflicted by war. Africa has been marred by more than

20 major civil wars since 1960. Rwanda, Somalia, Angola,

Sudan, Liberia, and Burundi are among those countries that

have recently suffered serious armed conflict.

(3) In the last decade alone, between 2,000,000 and

4,000,000 Africans have died because of war. There were

5,200,000 refugees and 13,100,000 displaced people in Africa

in 1993.

(4) Millions more Africans are currently at risk of warrelated death. Looming or ongoing conflicts in Zaire, Angola,

Sudan, Rwanda, and other countries threaten Africa’s future.

(5) War has caused untold economic and social damage

to the countries of Africa. Food production is impossible in

conflict areas, and famine often results. Widespread conflict

has condemned many of Africa’s children to lives of misery

and, in certain cases, has threatened the existence of traditional

African cultures.

(6) Conflict and instability in Africa, particularly in large,

potentially rich countries such as Angola, Sudan, and Zaire,

deprive the global economy of resources and opportunities for

trade and investment. Peace in these countries could make
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a significant contribution to global economic growth, while

creating new opportunities for United States businesses. (7) Excessive military expenditures threaten political and economic stability in Africa while diverting scarce resources

from development needs. Demobilization and other measures

to reduce the size of African armies, and civilian control of

the military under the rule of law are in the interest of international security and economic development. (8) Conflict prevention, mediation, and demobilization are

prerequisites to the success of development assistance programs. Nutrition and education programs, for example, cannot

succeed in a nation at war. Billions of dollars of development

assistance have been virtually wasted in war-ravaged countries

such as Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan.

(9) Africans have a long tradition of informal mediation. This tradition should be built upon to create effective institutions through which Africans can resolve African conflicts. (10) The effectiveness of U.S. support for conflict resolution

programs requires coordination and collaboration with multilateral institutions and other bilateral donors.

(11) African institutions are playing an active role in con- flict resolution and mediation utilizing the experience of elder

statesmen. Groups such as the All African Council of Churches

have assisted in defusing conflicts. The Economic Community

of West African States (ECOWAS) has sought to address the

conflict in Liberia by deploying an African peacekeeping force.

The Southern African states have been working to prevent

a crisis in Lesotho. The Intergovernmental Authority on

Desertification and Drought (IGADD) has been engaged in

attempting to resolve the conflict in Sudan. (12) The Organization of African Unity, under the leader- ship of Secretary General Salim Salim, has established a conflict resolution mechanism and has been active in mediation

and conflict resolution in several African countries.

(b) UNITED STATES POLICY.—The Congress declares, therefore, that a key goal for United States foreign policy should be to help

institutionalize conflict resolution capability in Africa.

SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF

THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The President is authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict resolution

capability of the Organization of African Unity, as follows: (1) Funds may be provided to the Organization of African Unity for use in supporting its conflict resolution capability,

including providing technical assistance. (2) Funds may be used for expenses of sending individuals

with expertise in conflict resolution to work with the Organization of African Unity.

(b) FUNDING.—Of the foreign assistance funds that are allocated

for sub-Saharan Africa, not less than $1,500,000 for each of the

fiscal years 1995 through 1998 should be used to carry out subsection (a).

SEC. 4. IMPROVING CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF MULTILATERAL SUBREGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN AFRICA.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The President is authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict resolution
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capabilities of subregional organizations established by countries

in sub-Saharan Africa, as follows:

(1) Funds may be provided to such organizations for use

in supporting their conflict resolution capability, including

providing technical assistance.

(2) Funds may be used for the expenses of sending individuals with expertise in conflict resolution to work with such

organizations.

(b) FUNDING.—Of the foreign assistance funds that are allocated

for sub-Saharan Africa, such sums as may be necessary for each

of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998 may be used to carry out

subsection (a).

SEC. 5. IMPROVING CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The President is authorized to provide assistance to nongovernmental organizations that

are engaged in mediation and reconciliation efforts in sub-Saharan

Africa.

(b) FUNDING.—Of the foreign assistance funds that are allocated

for sub-Saharan Africa, such sums as may be necessary for each

of the fiscal years 1995 and 1996 should be used to carry out

subsection (a).

SEC. 6. AFRICAN DEMOBILIZATION AND RETRAINING PROGRAM.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—In order to facilitate reductions in the size of the armed forces of countries of sub-Saharan

Africa, the President is authorized to—

(1) provide assistance for the encampment and related

activities for the purpose of demobilization of such forces; and

(2) provide assistance for the reintegration of demobilized

military personnel into civilian society through activities such

as retraining for civilian occupations, creation of incomegenerating opportunities, their reintegration into agricultural

activities, and the transportation to the home areas of such

personnel.

(b) FUNDING.—Of the foreign assistance funds that are allocated

for sub-Saharan Africa, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years

1995 and 1996 should be used for the assistance described in

subsection (a), if conditions permit.

(c) CIVILIAN INVOLVEMENT.—The President is also authorized

to promote civilian involvement in the planning and organization

of demobilization and reintegration activities.

SEC. 7. TRAINING FOR AFRICANS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND

PEACEKEEPING.

(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The President is authorized to establish

a program to provide education and training in conflict resolution

and peacekeeping for civilian and military personnel of countries

in sub-Saharan Africa.

(b) FUNDING.—Of the funds made available under chapter 5

of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, such sums as

may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 and 1996 should

be used for the purposes of subsection (a).
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SEC. 8. PLAN FOR UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND DEMOBILIZATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Pursuant to the provisions of sections 3

through 7, the President should develop an integrated long-term

plan, which incorporates local perspectives, to provide support for

the enhancement of conflict resolution capabilities and demobilization activities in sub-Saharan Africa.

(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—Such plan should include:

(1) The type, purpose, amount, and duration of assistance

that is planned to be provided to conflict resolution units in

sub-Saharan Africa.

(2) The type and amount of assistance that is planned

to be provided for the demobilization of military personnel

of countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including—

(A) a list of which countries will receive such assistance

and an explanation of why such countries were chosen

for such assistance; and

(B) a list of other countries and international organizations that are providing assistance for such demobilization.

(3) The type and amount of assistance that is planned

to be provided to nongovernmental organizations that are

engaged in mediation and reconciliation efforts in sub-Saharan

Africa.

(4) A description of proposed training programs for Africans

in conflict resolution and peacekeeping under section 7, including a list of prospective participants and plans to expand such

programs.

(5) The mechanisms to be used to coordinate interagency

efforts to administer the plan.

(6) Efforts to seek the participation of other countries and

international organizations to achieve the objectives of the plan.

(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate

congressional committees a report containing a description of the

plan developed under this section.

SEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

(a) REQUIREMENT.—The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the efforts and

progress made in carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(b) DATE OF SUBMISSION.—The first report submitted under

subsection (a) shall be submitted no later than 180 days after

the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall be submitted

annually thereafter.

SEC. 10. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.

The President shall consult with the appropriate congressional

committees prior to providing assistance under sections 3 through

7.

SEC. 11. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional

committees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the

Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and
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the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.