Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On the Escalating Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo October 29, 2008 “I am very concerned about the recent escalation in violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Last year, I traveled to North Kiva, where the fighting is taking place, and saw firsthand the grave suffering of people who have lived through a decade of armed conflict. Renewed violence only worsens this suffering and has left hundreds of thousands more people displaced. The U.S. should continue to push for an immediate ceasefire, a critical step needed to revive the dialogue between the warring parties, while also allowing humanitarian assistance to get to those who desperately need it. I also urge all parties to publicly denounce the increasing hate speech which fuels ethnic violence. “I am pleased that Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer is traveling to Congo this week to meet with President Kabila, but this engagement must remain consistent and be part of a broader multilateral effort to bring all key actors, including Rwanda, back to the negotiating table to recommit to the Goma Peace Agreement and Nairobi Communiqué. There is no military solution to the conflict in eastern Congo; the international and regional community must work collectively to ensure all sides develop and follow a political solution.” Senator Feingold is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs. Feingold traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo in August 2007.

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