IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 175

Expressing concern over the outbreak of violence in the Republic of Congo

and the resulting threat to scheduled elections and constitutional government in that country.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 25, 1997

Mr. ROYCE (for himself, Mr. HOUGHTON, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. CHABOT)

submitted the following resolution; which was

RESOLUTION

Expressing concern over the outbreak of violence in the Republic of Congo and the resulting threat to scheduled

elections and constitutional government in that country.

Whereas President Pascal Lissouba defeated former President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in a 1992 election that was

determined to be free and fair;

Whereas losing candidates raised questions concerning the results of the 1993 legislative election and used those concerns to cast doubt on the entire democratic process in

the Republic of Congo and as the rationale for creating

private militias;

Whereas thousands of citizens of the Republic of Congo have

been killed in intermittent fighting between Government

soldiers and private militiamen since 1993;
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•HRES 175 IH

Whereas there are concerns about the unfinished census and

resulting electoral list to be used in the scheduled July

27 election;

Whereas the recent fighting resulted from the Government’s

attempt to disarm former President Sassou-Nguesso’s

‘‘Cobra’’ militia in advance of the scheduled July 27 election;

Whereas the fighting and uneasy peace has caused serious

loss of life and diminished ability to care for those who

are without access to adequate medical care or food and

water;

Whereas the fighting between Government troops and militiamen have forced the evacuation from the country of foreign nationals and endangered refugees from both Rwanda and the former Zaire; and

Whereas African governments have attempted to bring about

a negotiated settlement to the current crisis: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) condemns the current fighting and urges

3 the warring parties to reach a lasting ceasefire that

4 will allow for humanitarian needs to be addressed as

5 soon as possible;

6 (2) calls on all private militia to disarm and

7 disband immediately to end the continuing threat to

8 peace and stability in the Republic of Congo;

9 (3) commends African leaders from Gabon,

10 Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Benin, Central Afri-
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•HRES 175 IH

1 can Republic, Senegal, and Chad for their efforts to

2 negotiate a peaceful settlement and encourages their

3 continuing efforts to find a sustainable political set4 tlement in this matter;

5 (4) supports the deployment of an international

6 peacekeeping force to the Republic of Congo if

7 deemed necessary;

8 (5) urges the Government of the Republic of

9 Congo, in cooperation with all legal political parties,

10 to resolve in a transparent manner questions con11 cerning the scheduled elections and to prepare for

12 open and transparent elections at the earliest fea13 sible time; and

14 (6) encourages the United States Government

15 to provide technical assistance on election related

16 matters if requested by the Government of the Re17 public of Congo.

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