IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 16
Calling for a peaceful transition to stability and democracy in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 30, 2001
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida submitted the following concurrent resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Calling for a peaceful transition to stability and democracy
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Whereas on January 16, 2001, President Laurent Kabila of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo was assassinated,
and this event jeopardizes the peace, security, and sta-
bility of central Africa;
Whereas Congo is home to approximately 50,000,000 people;
Whereas since 1994, Congo has been plagued by ethnic strife
and civil war touched off by a massive inflow of refugees
fleeing the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi;
Whereas in May 1997, Laurent Kabila toppled Africa’s most
durable dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, and declared himself
President of the nation that is now Congo;
•HCON 16 IH
Whereas in 1997, following President Laurent Kabila’s as-
sumption of leadership, Congo showed bright prospects
for democracy, peace, stability, and economic develop-
ment;
Whereas approximately 1 year later, President Laurent
Kabila found himself the target of a new insurrection
backed by external forces;
Whereas in June 2000, the International Rescue Committee
concluded that approximately 1,700,000 people in the
eastern region of Congo had perished as a result of the
conflict;
Whereas the conflict has impoverished the Congolese, caused
great suffering to innocent civilians, including children,
and displaced millions of people within Congo and pushed
many more into neighboring countries;
Whereas economic mismanagement has made everyday life
for the Congolese the hardest ever endured in their his-
tory;
Whereas the Lusaka Peace Accord, entered into in 1999
among Congo, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Rwanda,
Uganda, and 3 major rebel groups, called for a cease fire,
a political dialogue, and the deployment of United Na-
tions peace keepers;
Whereas President Laurent Kabila and all parties to the ac-
cord ignored and violated its provisions;
Whereas President Laurent Kabila blocked the United Na-
tions from even beginning the process of deploying troops
in Congo; and
Whereas the conflict in Congo continues: Now, therefore, be
it
•HCON 16 IH
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) recognizes and commends those people of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (commonly
referred to as ‘‘Congo’’) who have demonstrated
their love of peace, law, and order;
(2) condemns the assassination of Congolese
President Laurent Kabila;
(3) urges each party to the Lusaka Peace
Accord—
(A) to observe a cease-fire;
(B) to refrain from exploiting to its own
advantage 
the 
assassination 
of 
President
Laurent Kabila;
(C) to cooperate in the successful economic
reconstruction of Congo; and
(D) to abide by the terms of the accord
and solidify a transitional process that will lead
to peace and democracy for the Congolese, who
have endured brutal dictatorships for so long;
(4) affirms that the Lusaka Peace Accord is the
most viable means for achieving peace and stability
in Congo;
(5) calls on the United Nations to continue the
cooperative process of working with Belgium,
•HCON 16 IH
France, and other nations in applying diplomatic
pressures necessary for democratic change in Congo;
(6) urges Rwanda, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe,
and all other governments involved in the Congolese
conflict to rise above their national concerns and act
in the interest of all the people of Africa;
(7) urges the President and the international
community—
(A) to continue to monitor violence in
Congo and condemn brutality against law abid-
ing citizens; and
(B) to work with the Government of Congo
and devise strategies for an equitable and viable
resolution to all of that nation’s internal con-
flicts; and
(8) recommends that the President encourage
the United Nations Security Council to consider all
options to stabilize the situation in Congo.
Æ