Communiques – en

see attachment

Rebel Leader Guilty, but Co-accused Ntaganda Must be Arrested

Fistula* is widespread in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The problem is receiving increasing international and national attention but it is imperative that standards are put in place on how to best prevent and repair fistula. Treatment is possible through reconstructive surgery which requires specialist training – a failed attempt may make the fistula irreparable. Panzi Hospital is one of few hospitals in the eastern DRC with expertise in fistula repair.

Contact: Deborah Hakes in Atlanta +1 404 420 5124 or Baya Kara in Kinshasa +243 81 240 7659

Carter Center: Democratic Republic of the Congo Legislative Election Results Compromised

Dear Friends,

The New Year began with a lot of mobilization efforts across the globe by Congolese communities. They have denounced the fraudulent elections that took place on November 28, 2011. They have demonstrated to bring attention to the fraudulent elections and have appealed to other democratic nations not to recognize the elections results that have returned Joseph Kabila to his presidential seat in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On January 21, multiple cities around the globe witnessed Congolese taking to the streets; people turned out in the thousands in Paris and Washington. The Congolese Diaspora’s actions manifest people’s desire to see Congo become a genuinely democratic society. Read more>

Press Statement

Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

February 14, 2012

Dear Members of the Great Lakes Contact Group,

RE: Urgent Call for International Action to Uphold Democracy and Human Rights in the DRC

Testimony

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald Yamamoto

Bureau of African Affairs

U.S. Department of State

Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights

“U.S. Policy Toward Post-Election Democratic Republic of the Congo”

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Brussels 2 February 2012

On the strength of its observation of the presidential and legislative elections on 28 November 2011 in cooperation with Congolese civil society organisations, members of AETA (whose communiqué we support and which is attached), and subsequent communiqués (28 November, 1 and 19 December) the European network for Central Africa (EurAc) expresses its grave concern regarding the course of the electoral process. The resulting political crisis undermines the institutional stability of the country, could lead to violence and give ammunition to those seeking to create disorder. The fact that in some provinces and some polling stations the election ran smoothly and respected the will of the Congolese people, who voted enthusiastically, is not enough to weaken the general perception that the process was far from confidence inspiring.

Joint mission concludes that meaningful stakeholder participation and access to all relevant
electoral materials are needed for a comprehensive review