IB
Union Calendar No. 400
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4541
[Report No. 103–723]
To authorize assistance to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts in
Africa.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 8, 1994
Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida (for himself and Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs
SEPTEMBER 19, 1994
Additional sponsors: Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. ACKER-
MAN, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. EDWARDS of California, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. BER-
MAN, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. BACCHUS of Florida, Mrs.
MEEK, Mr. PENNY, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr.
WYNN, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. WASHINGTON, Mr. HUGHES, Mr. MCCLOS-
KEY, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas,
Mr. RANGEL, Mr. DE LUGO, Mr. HOUGHTON, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. REYN-
OLDS, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. HALL of
Ohio, Mr. WALSH, Mr. KLEIN, Mr. RUSH, Mr. LEACH, Ms. FURSE, Mr.
MFUME, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. WATT, and Mr. SYNAR
SEPTEMBER 19, 1994
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 8, 1994]
A BILL
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 Resolu-
tion 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 res-
olution. A relatively small investment of assistance in
promoting African conflict resolution—
(A) would reduce the enormous human suf-
fering 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 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. Rwan-
da, 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 coun-
tries 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 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 cul-
tures.
(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. Mili-
tary 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 demobili-
zation are prerequisites to the success of development
assistance programs. Nutrition and education pro-
grams, 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 cre-
ate 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 organi-
zations have also become active in conflict resolution
efforts. These are encouraging developments.
(b) UNITED STATES POLICY.—The Congress declares,
therefore, that a key goal for United States foreign policy
should be to help institutionalize conflict resolution capabil-
ity in Africa.
SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILI-
TIES 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.
(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 ORGANIZA-
TIONS IN AFRICA.
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The President
is authorized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict
resolution capabilities of subregional organizations estab-
lished by countries in sub-Saharan Africa, as follows:
(1) Funds may be provided to such an organiza-
tion for use in supporting its conflict resolution capa-
bility.
(2) Funds may be used for the expenses of send-
ing individuals with expertise in conflict resolution 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 nec-
essary 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 fa-
cilitate reductions in the size of the armed forces of coun-
tries of sub-Saharan Africa, the President is authorized 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 per-
sonnel 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 assist-
ance 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 President
is authorized to provide assistance to nongovernmental or-
ganizations that are engaged in mediation and reconcili-
ation efforts in Africa.
(b) FUNDING.—Of the foreign assistance funds that are
allocated for sub-Saharan Africa, such sums as may be nec-
essary 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 CONFLICT
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 mili-
tary personnel of countries of sub-Saharan Africa, in-
cluding—
(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.
(3) The type and amount of assistance that is
planned to be provided to nongovernmental organiza-
tions that are engaged in mediation and reconcili-
ation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
(4) A description of proposed training programs
for Africans in conflict resolution and peacekeeping,
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 120 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report contain-
ing a description of the plan developed under this section.
SEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
describing the efforts and progress made in carrying out
the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 10. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.
The President shall consult with the appropriate con-
gressional committees prior to providing assistance under
section 3 or section 5.
SEC. 11. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.
For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘appropriate con-
gressional committees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appro-
priations, and the Committee on Armed Services of the
Senate.