On Tuesday June 18, 2013, US Secretary of State John Kerry appointed his former colleague at the United States Senate Russell “Russ” Feingold as the new United States Special Representative for the African Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A tireless advocate of peace in the African Great Lakes region in the US Senate, he has an extensive background in sub-saharan African affairs and brings a wealth of knowledge of the region. He chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs from 2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2011.
Photo: Congolese refugees in Rwanda in March 2013 fleeing fightings among Rwandan government backed M23 rebel factions
US Secretary of State John Kerry assign mission to Russ Feingold: Disarm M23 rebels and push for political negotiation elsewhere.
Russ Feingold’s mission was outline by US Secretary State John Kerry when announcing the appointment: “As everybody here knows, the suffering in the Great Lakes region of Africa and the ongoing crisis in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to trouble all of us greatly. We are convinced that we have to help the parties find a path to a lasting peace, to a permanent cessation of hostilities, and to the disarmament and demobilization of M23, accountability for human rights abuses, and finally, a breaking down of the barriers that are standing between humanitarian aid and the civilians who need it.…Russ will be coordinating with me and with the Bureau of African Affairs to shape our strategy on the many challenges in the region – cross-border security; political, economic, and social assistance issues; and many other issues. I mentioned some of them earlier – M23, the violence, the need to build confidence and capacity in the region. He will also work very closely with the United Nations Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, Mary Robinson, and he will work specifically to ensure the prompt and full implementation of the UN’s Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework.
So, his mission appears clear: disarmament and demobilization of M23 rebels and helping the parties to find a path to a lasting peace and permanent cessation of hostilities.
Direct Talks Among the Great Lakes region warring protagonists?
More interesting was what John Kerry said in his conclusion:
“I want to emphasize that the stakes in this part of the world – and this was brought home to me in many of my conversations when I was in Addis Ababa for the 50th anniversary of the African Union – the stakes are very significant, and it is absolutely vital that we do everything possible in order to move things in the right direction and make the right choices.”
Is it a reference to the recent statements by the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwte (see our article:Talk to Your Armed Opposition, Tanzanian President Kikwete Tells Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Joseph Kabila of DRC of May 29, 2013)?
Russ Feingold has gone further, well before President Jakaya Kikwete. In 2009, while visiting the Great Lakes Region as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs., he said:
“The international community should urge Kigali to open direct negotiations with non-genocidaire combatants of the FDLR to encourage their repatriation. It is critical to augment non-military initiatives to induce defections and open channels of dialogue between the warring parties.”
It appears that his approach is a clear confirmation that the US Will Push direct talks between the Rwandan dictator General Paul Kagame and his moderate armed opposition (see our article: US Government to Push For Direct Peace Talks Among African Governments and Their Moderate Armed Opposition? of June 18, 2013)
The appointment of Russ Feingold was welcomed by many experts, observers and NGOs working in or on the African Great Lakes Region, especially 19 NGOs and advocacy groups leaders including John Prendergast and Sasha Lezhnev of the Enough Project, Mark Schneider of International Crisis Group, and Jason Stearns of Rift Valley Institute who wrote:
The 19 NGOs and advocacy groups leaders singled out Rwanda and Ugandan Governments as the root of the conflict in Eastern DRC:
“Congo’s eastern neighbors, particularly Rwanda and Uganda, as well as elites in Congo, have spent years constructing and supporting systems to illegally exploit the Congo’s resources. ”
Feingold replaces R. Barrie Walkley, who has been the special representative since December 2011.
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Gen kagame’s is on brink …he cannot offer something different apart from invading DRC and attack FDLR,that’s why the west and USA believe now is time for change of guards in the Great Lakes region,he’s been told to plans his smooth exit by the UK and soon USA will confirm their position when pres Obama visit Africa by the end of jun.”hasta la vista Gen kagame,what goes up no matter how long it takes, the must come down” Mobutu’s history is repeat it again and again.
Finally ,now the world can see the troublemaker of the Great Lakes region. Like I say it before this is the beginning of the end for Gen Kagame and is empire. Remember Gen Ntaganda is keep talking and talking to get leniency. Next will be Pres Obama to tells Gen Kagame to do the same or face the conscequences. “What goes around,comes around” “what goes up no matter how long it take they must always comes down” Fact!! remember Mobutu was the most reliable chief of operation and action world wide,but after the Cold War he was nobody. Gen Kagame is on brink…like we say in the UK