Over the August recess I traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to better understand the complex challenges facing these two countries at this critical time. This hearing continues this learning process, with the aim of developing long-term, coordinated U.S. and international support for the negotiation and implementation of sustainable political agreements that will improve security, enhance and extend democracy, and create conditions for peace and prosperity in this strategically significant part of the world.

This hearing coincides with the visits of President Kabila of the DRC and President Museveni of Uganda to Washington, D.C. and without overlooking the rest of the region, it is on these two countries that I would like to focus given the critical stages at which they both stand.

In northern Uganda, two decades of violence between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the government of Uganda have forced an estimated 1.8 million people to seek refuge in squalid camps that lack access to basic resources, health care, and education. The government of Southern Sudan has been hosting peace talks between delegations representing the Ugandan government and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) since July 2006, and although slow and prone to disruptions, those talks have improved security in the north and prompted renewed optimism for a legitimate and much-awaited peace.

Meanwhile, the recent escalation of violence in the DRC’s restive eastern provinces prompted more than 100,000 people to flee their homes last month alone, with rising insecurity preventing humanitarian agencies from reaching 150,000 displaced civilians.

Although not perfect, the current negotiations for northern Uganda are in many ways a model for the Congolese government as they indicate the potential of regionally led negotiations that are backed by the international community. While legitimate governments may be understandably reluctant to enter into negotiations with rebel groups, they should also take into account the possibility of securing a viable peace that addresses longstanding grievances and curtails heinous acts of violence.

After numerous fits and starts, the current peace negotiations for northern Uganda appear to be moving in the right direction. Certainly, a number of core issues still need to be resolved -- including justice, livelihood development, security, and the rule of law – but the Juba process remains the best hope to end this twenty-year conflict. However, in light of the harsh rhetoric and deadlines we have seen in the past from the Ugandan government – including President Museveni– regional and broader international support in the form of consistent, and coordinated high-level engagement will be essential to keep this process on track.

Across the border, the situation in eastern DRC is unfortunately moving in the reverse direction, with a significant deterioration since late August. Late last week saw a surge of militaristic rhetoric by the Congolese government and these words may soon turn into action. Indeed, President Kabila has ruled out negotiating with renegade General Laurent Nkunda and last week ordered his troops to prepare to disarm rebels "by force if necessary." The United States, and other donors, must send a strong signal that a more militarized policy is simply not acceptable.

When I was in these countries recently, I visited camps for the internally displaced in both eastern DRC and northern Uganda. The United States and others are funding the bulk of emergency assistance on which these people depend, and they are unquestionably grateful. But what they really want is peace. They want to be safe in their own homes, free to earn their own livelihoods, and supported by their government. I hope that this hearing will help generate ideas and commitments for greater U.S. contribution to the achievement of this vision.

On our first panel, we have Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer and USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Africa, Katherine Almquist. They will discuss the Administration’s strategy for dealing with these countries and also discuss the programs and resources the U.S. government has in place to address the various challenges and contingencies facing this region.

On the second panel of non-governmental witnesses, we will hear from Gayle Smith, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and formerly the Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council. We will also get a from-the-ground report from CARE’s Uganda Country Director, Kevin Fitzcharles, as well as a regional perspective from Mauro de Lorenzo, a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Thank you all for being here today and for contributing to this timely hearing on a collection of complex issues. I look forward to hearing your testimony and asking you some questions about how the United States can engage more actively and effectively to consolidate peace and democracy in this region.