[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"core\/picturefill,entity_embed\/caption,views\/views.ajax,views\/views.module","theme":"hrw_design","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__297061__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"297061","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/297061","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__297061__en","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ae5601d8790ff50fca3cf23b9ac9170285f2f75823ebdc8d9cc054bc03a679b"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":"\u003Clink rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/css\/css_reI-6YIYy-k9pvxm-gaCRrn5cSrTZRtyAMrp4YXDUJw.css\u0022 \/\u003E\n"},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_VkK39bvB4H6LLVemwPFz8QWcUMTFqZ3FFo_LBVv_4vs.js"}]},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":".js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__297061__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__297061__en\u0022\u003E\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022blog-block__content__description rich-text pt-6 mb:pt-10 mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESpeaker after speaker pointed to the same dark fear: If a solution can\u2019t be found soon to the Democratic Republic of Congo\u2019s political crisis, the country may slide into violence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-right embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--right\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/30327\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/tom_lantos_human_rights_commission.png?itok=c-rQAHlN 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/tom_lantos_human_rights_commission.png?itok=trAiuoNH 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/tom_lantos_human_rights_commission.png?itok=trAiuoNH\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022380\u0022 alt=\u0022The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the United States Congress held a hearing on November 29 about the deteriorating situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The speakers were Fred Bauma, Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Ida Sawyer, Sasha Lezhnev, Tom M\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003EThe Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the United States Congress held a hearing on November 29 about the deteriorating situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The speakers were Fred Bauma, Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Ida Sawyer, Sasha Lezhnev, Tom Malinowski and Tom Perriello. Timo Mueller for Human Rights Watch.\u00a0\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2016 Timo Mueller\/Human Rights Watch\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\t\u201cIf this is settled on the streets, it will be a disaster for the people of Congo,\u201d said Tom Perriello, United States Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa. \u201cAnything is possible.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tPerriello was one of the speakers at a\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/humanrightscommission.house.gov\/events\/hearings\/democracy-and-human-rights-democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003Ehearing\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0today in the US Congress\u00a0on the status of human rights and democracy in\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/africa\/democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003ECongo\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tAll speakers, two from the US government and four from nongovernmental organizations and academia, raised concerns about the potential for violence and further repression as the constitutionally mandated deadline approaches for President Joseph Kabila to step down on December 19.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tIn her\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/11\/29\/democracy-and-human-rights-democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Etestimony\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Human Rights Watch senior researcher\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/about\/people\/ida-sawyer\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003EIda Sawyer\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0said she wants to\u00a0\u201cset out for Congress the\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Eseverity\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0of the situation and the important role the US government can play to help walk Congo back from the brink.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/US_SEGL\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003EPerriello\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0pointed to the \u201cdeep reservoir of mistrust on both sides\u201d of the political class. While \u201cthere is still time for a peaceful transition,\u201d Perriello said he fears the\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/10\/13\/eu-impose-targeted-sanctions-against-senior-officials-democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Eviolent crackdown\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0on demonstrations in September \u201cwere a preview of tactics used, we could see the situation spin out of control very quickly.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tTom\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/Malinowski\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003EMalinowski\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, also shared concerns about the potential for a lethal crackdown, saying, \u201cthe bad news is that what happened in Burundi could happen in DRC.\u201d But \u201cthe door is still open\u201d to help avert the crisis, he said. Congressman James P. McGovern, who chaired the hearing, agreed a crisis was \u201cavoidable.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tMany of the speakers spoke out strongly in favor of targeted sanctions\u00a0against high-level officials responsible for serious abuse in Congo.\u00a0Perriello said that\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/09\/28\/dr-congo-us-imposes-sanctions-2-officials\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Eexisting sanctions\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0against three high-ranking security officials have been\u00a0\u201cextremely important and noticed.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\t\u201cI can assure you targeted sanctions had a notable deterrent effect and rattled those implicated in abuses,\u201d said Sawyer, who has been\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/08\/09\/dr-congo-human-rights-watch-researcher-barred\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Ebarred\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0from working in the country since August. Malinowski told Congress that the US government has been focused last month to \u201cmultilateralize\u201d targeted sanctions, encouraging the\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/10\/13\/eu-impose-targeted-sanctions-against-senior-officials-democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003EEuropean Union\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0to impose its own set of targeted sanctions.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tPerriello confirmed that the\u00a0US government will \u201ccontinue to consider additional targets\u201d for sanctions, stressing that the \u201cfocus is on the individuals responsible [for abuses].\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tSawyer called on the US administration to heed this call and\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/296885\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Esanction\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0the Congolese intelligence agency director, Kalev Mutond; Vice Prime Minister Evariste Boshab; and the Republican Guard commander, Gen. Ilunga Kampete.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/fredbauma90\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003EFred Bauma\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a Congolese activist of the youth movement Struggle for Change (LUCHA) who, together with Yves Makwambala,\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/08\/19\/four-activists-be-released-dr-congo\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Eserved\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a017 months in prison on trumped-up charges, like many other\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296629\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Epolitical prisoners\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, called on the government to\u00a0apply more financial sanctions to those involved in \u201cmalpractices and scandals.\u201d\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/SashaLezhnev\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003ESasha Lezhnev\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate director of policy at the Enough Project, spelled out the\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.enoughproject.org\/events\/combating-violent-kleptocracy-democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Etechnical details\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0of financial sanctions.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tMany speakers agreed that supporting\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296080\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Emediation efforts\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0by the Catholic Church remains one of the most promising avenues for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/MvembaDizolele\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003EMvemba Phezo Dizolele\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, professional lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, called on Congress to remember that the responsibility for the crisis rests primarily with the political leaders\u00a0and that it is important\u00a0to engage President Kabila, \u201cthe man who holds the key\u201d to solving the crisis. Echoing his remarks, Sawyer said there is a \u201cneed to show Kabila that there is an honorable way out.\u201d Earlier, Perriello had stressed that Kabila \u2013 who \u201csurpassed expectations\u201d as a leader \u2013 could leave as a \u201chero.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tWith the ruling political class in Congo strongly\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296494\u0022\u003E\u003Cu\u003Ebelieving\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0that President-elect Donald Trump will be more lenient in its approach to mitigating the crisis, Dizolele and Lezhnev called on Congress to impress upon Trump the importance of appointing a new special envoy to Congo, which Congressman McGovern did not rule out as a possibility.\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\u003C\/div\u003E\n","settings":null}]