103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4541
AN ACT
To authorize assistance to promote the peaceful resolution
of conflicts in Africa.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘African Conflict Reso-
lution 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 assist-
ance 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 Soma-
lia-like humanitarian disasters; and
(C) would reduce the need for United Na-
tions intervention as African institutions de-
velop 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 dis-
placed people in Africa in 1993. In Angola, relief or-
ganizations estimated that 1,000 people were dying
each day at the end of 1993. In Rwanda, more than
200,000 people died in less than 5 weeks of fighting
during 1994, while 300,000 people fled to other
countries to escape war.
(4) Millions more Africans are currently at risk
of war-related death. Looming or ongoing conflicts
in Zaire, Angola, Sudan, Rwanda, and other coun-
tries 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 re-
sults. Widespread conflict has condemned many of
Africa’s children to lives of misery and, in certain
cases, has threatened the existence of traditional Af-
rican cultures.
(6) Conflict and instability in Africa, particu-
larly in large, potentially rich countries such as An-
gola, Sudan, and Zaire, deprive the global economy
of resources and opportunities for trade and invest-
ment. Peace in these countries could make a signifi-
cant contribution to global economic growth, while
creating new opportunities for United States busi-
nesses.
(7) Many African armies are far too large,
threatening political and economic stability while di-
verting scarce resources from development needs.
Military expenditures in Africa average over twice
the level in Latin America. Demobilization and other
measures to reduce military expenditures are thus a
critical need for many African countries.
(8) Conflict prevention, mediation, and demobi-
lization are prerequisites to the success of develop-
ment 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 Organization of African Unity, under
the leadership of Secretary General Salim Salim, has
established a conflict resolution mechanism and has
been active in mediation and conflict resolution in
several African countries. Various subregional orga-
nizations have also become active in conflict resolu-
tion efforts. These are encouraging developments.
(b) UNITED STATES POLICY.—The Congress de-
clares, 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 CAPABILI-
TIES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN
UNITY.
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF ASSISTANCE.—The Presi-
dent is authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the
conflict resolution capability of the Organization of Afri-
can Unity, as follows:
(1) Funds may be provided to the Organization
of African Unity for use in supporting its conflict
resolution capability.
(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 ORGANI-
ZATIONS IN AFRICA.
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF ASSISTANCE.—The Presi-
dent is authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the
conflict resolution capabilities of subregional organizations
established by countries in sub-Saharan Africa, as follows:
(1) Funds may be provided to such an organi-
zation for use in supporting its conflict resolution
capability.
(2) Funds may be used for the expenses of
sending individuals with expertise in conflict resolu-
tion to work with such an organization.
(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. AFRICAN DEMOBILIZATION AND RETRAINING PRO-
GRAM.
(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 author-
ized to provide assistance for—
(1) the encampment and related activities for
the purpose of demobilization of such forces; and
(2) the reintegration of demobilized military
personnel into civilian society through activities such
as retraining for civilian occupations, creation of in-
come-generating opportunities, the 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.
SEC. 6. TRAINING FOR AFRICANS IN CONFLICT RESOLU-
TION AND PEACEKEEPING.
Chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 546. CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEACEKEEPING
PROGRAM FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.
‘‘In addition to the other education and training ac-
tivities carried out under this chapter, the President is au-
thorized 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.’’.
SEC. 7. BUILDING MEDIATION CAPABILITY IN AFRICA.
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF ASSISTANCE.—The Presi-
dent is authorized to provide assistance to nongovern-
mental organizations that are engaged in mediation and
reconciliation efforts in 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. 8. PLAN FOR UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR CON-
FLICT RESOLUTION AND DEMOBILIZATION IN
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In furtherance of and building
upon the provisions of sections 3 through 7, the President
shall develop an integrated long-term plan to provide sup-
port for the enhancement of conflict resolution capabilities
and demobilization activities in sub-Saharan Africa.
(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—Such plan shall identify,
among other things, the following:
(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 Afri-
ca, 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 inter-
national organizations that are providing assist-
ance for such demobilization.