H. Res. 115

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

April 17, 1997.

Whereas Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko’s 31-year rule

has turned his potentially prosperous country into one of

the world’s poorest, where human suffering long has been

widespread;

Whereas the Mobutu Government has systematically violated

the human rights and undermined the security of Zaire’s

46,000,000 people;

Whereas the Mobutu Government has proven itself unwilling

to allow a genuine transition to multi-party democracy

and continues to cling to power against the best interests

of Zaire’s people;

Whereas the Mobutu Government permitted the circulation of

extremist propaganda in the refugee camps that undermined voluntary repatriation efforts of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees;

Whereas the international community is concerned about the

humanitarian needs of the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced Zairians;

Whereas many thousands of Rwandans seeking to return

home are now too ill to walk and scores succumb each

day to cholera, malnutrition, malaria, dehydration, and

other diseases while awaiting final agreements among
2

•HRES 115 EH

parties to the conflict, the Government of Rwanda, and

international humanitarian organizations, to permit the

organization and implementation of a speedy air evacuation and the regular supply of urgently needed relief

supplies and medical care;

Whereas in Zaire there have been numerous attempts to obstruct humanitarian relief to these populations at risk

and to hinder relocation of civilians and the repatriation

of refugees wishing to return home;

Whereas there are continuing reports of human rights violations by all parties that stem from the continued fighting

in Zaire;

Whereas representatives of the Zairian Government and the

Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of

Congo-Zaire (ADFL) negotiated in South Africa, under

the supervision of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, with no cease-fire agreement; and

Whereas the objectives of the United States Government,

achieving the cessation of hostilities and achieving political reforms in Zaire, continue to be stymied: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That—

(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives

that—

(A) President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire

should immediately resign from the office of the

Presidency of Zaire, leave Zaire, and withdraw from

all political activity;
3

•HRES 115 EH

(B) the United States Government should unequivocally call on Mobutu Sese Seko to immediately leave Zaire and withdraw from all political

activity;

(C) the United States should continue to distance itself and its foreign policy from President

Mobutu and his government in order to hasten his

departure from Zaire’s government and political

life;

(D) the United States should work with all interested African and European nations to oppose

the presence in Zaire of foreign government and

mercenary forces, halt the flow of arms into the

country, and encourage the warring parties to negotiate a cease-fire leading to a lasting peace;

(E) the United States Government should play

a leading role in the international effort in supporting the creation of a broad-based transitional government of national unity composed of all democratic forces in Zaire; and

(F) the United States should actively pursue

an immediate agreement among the various parties

to permit the immediate and unhindered provision

of humanitarian relief and the presence of inter-
4

•HRES 115 EH

national humanitarian workers to aid refugees and

displaced persons in the Zaire; and

(2) the House of Representatives supports the creation in Zaire of the enabling environment necessary to

conduct democratic, multi-party elections at the earliest

feasible time, as well as the necessary conditions to establish the rule of law, respect for human rights, and the

effective provision of humanitarian assistance.

Attest:

Clerk.