African Conflict Resolution Act
PL 103-381 (S.2475), enacted 10/19/1994

PUBLIC LAW 103-381—OCT. 19,1994 
108 STAT. 3513 
Public Law 103-381 
103d Congress 
An Act 
To authorize assistance to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa. 
Oct. 19, 1994 
[S. 2475] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
African Conflict 
Resolution Act. 
SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE. 
22 USC 2151 
This Act may be cited as the "African Conflict Resolution Act". 
note. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF POUCY. 
22 USC 2151 
(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 assistance in promoting African conflict 
resolution— 
(A) would reduce the enormous human sufTering which 
is caused by wars in Africa; 
(B) would help the United States avoid huge future 
expenditures necessitated by Somalia-Uke humanitarian 
disasters; and 
(C) would reduce the need for United Nations interven-
tion 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. 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 displaced people in Africa 
in 1993. 
(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 cultures. 
(6) Conflict and instability in Africa, particularly in large, 
potentially rich countries such as Angola, Sudan, and Zaire, 
deprive the global economy of resources and opportunities for 
trade and investment. Peace in these countries could make 
108 STAT. 3514 
PUBLIC LAW 103-381—OCT. 19, 1994 
a significant contribution to global economic growth, while 
creating new opportunities for United States businesses. 
(7) Excessive military expenditures threaten political and 
economic stability in Afiica while diverting scarce resources 
fi*om development needs. Demobilization and other measures 
to reduce the size of African armies, and civilian control of 
the military under the rule of law are in the interest of inter-
national security and economic development. 
(8) Conflict prevention, mediation, and demobihzation are 
prerequisites to the success of development assistance pro-
grams. Nutrition and education progrEuns, 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 institu-
tions through which Africans can resolve African conflicts. 
(10) The effectiveness of U.S. support for conflict resolution 
programs requires coordination and collaboration with multilat-
eralinstitutions and other bilateral donors. 
(11) Afric£ui institutions are playing an active role in con-
flict resolution and mediation utilizing the experience of elder 
statesmen. Groups such as the All African Council of Churches 
have assisted in defusing conflicts. The Economic Community 
of West African States (ECOWAS) has sought to address the 
conflict in Liberia by deploying an African peacekeeping force. 
The Southern African states have been working to prevent 
a crisis in Lesotho. The Intergovernmental Authority on 
Desertification and Drought (IGADD) has been engaged in 
attempting to resolve the conflict in Sudan. 
(12) The Organization of African Unity, under the leader-
ship of Secretary Greneral Salim Salim, has established a con-
flict resolution mechanism and has been active in mediation 
and conflict resolution in several African countries. 
(b) UNITED STATES POLICY.—The Congress declares, therefore, 
that a key goal for United States foreign policy should be to help 
institutionEilize conflict resolution capability in Africa. 
22 use 2151 
SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF 
note. 
THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The President is author-
ized 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, 
including providing technical assistance. 
(2) Funds may be used for expenses of sending individuals 
with expertise in conflict resolution to work with the Organiza-
tion 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 sub-
section (a). 
22 use 2151 
SEC. 4. IMPROVING CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF MULTI-
note. 
LATERAL SUBREGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN AFRICA. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The President is author-
ized to provide assistance to strengthen the conflict resolution 
PUBLIC LAW 103-381—OCT. 19,1994 
108 STAT. 3515 
capabilities of subregional organizations established by countries 
in sub-Saharan Africa, as follows: 
(1) Funds may be provided to such organizations for use 
in supporting their conflict resolution capability, including 
provicfing technicgd assistance. 
(2) Funds may be used for the expenses of sending individ-
uals with expertise in conflict resolution to work with such 
organizations. 
(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. IMPROVING CONFLICT RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES OF NON- 22 USC 2151 
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. 
note-
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The President is author-
ized to provide assistance to nongovernmental organizations that 
are engaged in mediation and reconciliation efforts in sub-Saharan 
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 £uid 1996 should be used to carry out 
subsection (a). 
SEC. 6. AFRICAN DEMOBILIZATION AND RETRAINING PROGRAM. 
22 USC 2151 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.—In order to facilitate reduc-
tions in the size of the armed forces of countries of sub-Saharan 
Africa, the President is authorized to— 
(1) provide assistance for the encampment and related 
activities for the purpose of demobilization of such forces; and 
(2) provide assistance for the reintegration of demobilized 
military personnel into civilian society through activities such 
as retraining for civilian occupations, creation of income-
generating opportunities, their 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. 
(c) CIVILIAN INVOLVEMENT.—The President is also authorized 
to promote civilian involvement in the planning and organization 
of demobilization and reintegration activities. 
SEC. 7. TRAINING FOR AFRICANS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND 22 USC 2151 
PEACEKEEPING. 
note. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The President is authorized to establish 
a program to provide education and training in conflict resolution 
and peacekeeping for civilian and military personnel of countries 
in sub-Sgdiaran Africa. 
(b) FUNDING.—Of the funds made available under chapter 5 
of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 and 1996 should 
be used for the purposes of subsection (a). 
108 STAT. 3516 
PUBLIC LAW 103-381—OCT. 19, 1994 
22 use 2151 
note. 
President. 
President. 
22 use 2151 
note. 
President. 
22 use 2151 
note. 
22 use 2151 
note. 
SEC. 8. PLAN FOR UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR CONFLICT RESOLU-
TION AND DEMOBILIZATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Pursuant to the provisions of sections 3 
through 7, the President should develop an integrated long-term 
plan, which incorporates local perspectives, to provide support for 
the enhancement of conflict resolution capabiUties and demobiliza-
tion activities in sub-Saharan Africa. 
(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—Such plan should include: 
(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 Africa, 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 international organiza-
tions that are providing assistance for such demobilization. 
(3) The type and amount of assistance that is planned 
to be provided to nongovernmental organizations that are 
engaged in mediation and reconciliation efforts in sub-Saharan 
Africa. 
(4) A description of proposed training programs for Africans 
in conflict resolution and peacekeeping under section 7, includ-
ing 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 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report containing a description of the 
plan developed under this section. 
SEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENT. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—^The President shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report describing the efforts and 
progress made in carrying out the provisions of this Act. 
(b) DATE OF SUBMISSION.—The first report submitted under 
subsection (a) shall be submitted no later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall be submitted 
annually thereaft;er. 
SEC. 
1
0
. 
CONSULTATION 
REQUIREMENT. 
The President shall consult with the appropriate congressional 
committees prior to providing assistance under sections 3 through 
7. 
SEC. 11. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED. 
For purposes of this Act, the term "appropriate congressional 
committees" means the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and 
PUBLIC LAW 103-381—OCT. 19,1994 
108 STAT. 3517 
the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the Senate. 
Approved October 19, 1994. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2475: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 140 (1994): 
Oct. 4, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 5, considered and passed House.