Rep. Christopher Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement with regard to a delay in elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo that had been scheduled for Sunday, December 23:

     “I find the postponement of elections—attributed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s electoral commission, or CENI, to ‘technical’ difficulties—to be utterly disingenuous.  Responsibility rests with Joseph Kabila and his government, which have already delayed elections by two years, to be prepared for free and fair elections followed by a constitutionally-mandated transfer of power.  Delay is denial, and the Congolese people have long been denied their most vital civil and political right—the free ballot.  I call upon Joseph Kabila to proceed with elections and order his forces not to engage in violence.  I also call upon President Trump to utilize his existing authority to sanction President Kabila, and any other members of his government who use violence against the Congolese people or otherwise deny them their fundamental civil and political right to vote.”

     Smith also noted with concern the partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, and a security alert that “strongly” urged US Citizens to leave the DRC. He further called upon the Senate to pass HR 6207, the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democracy and Accountability Act of 2018, which he authored.  “The DRC Democracy and Accountability Act underscores the seriousness with which Congress and the Administration view the actions of Kabila and his cronies.  There is added urgency in addressing Congo now, given the outbreak of Ebola and the specter of renewed civil war.  It is important for us in Congress to speak with a loud, clear and distinct voice on the suffering the people of the DRC are enduring.”