Stop the Violence in Congo

The renewed rebel offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo threatens to return the region to all-out war and has already displaced at least 200,000 additional civilians. The UN mission in Congo (MONUC), while the largest UN mission, is not able to protect civilians from atrocities without immediate reinforcements.

Call Secretary Rice and tell her that you want stopping the violence in Congo to be a priority during her final days in office: (202) 647-5291.

The ten-year war in eastern DRC led to the deaths of 4.5 million people, as well as tens of thousands of rapes before a peace agreement supported by the international community halted much of the violence. That peace is now breaking. The international community must reinforce MONUC and urgently deploy the diplomatic resources necessary to save the peace agreement and prevent a war that will again lead to mass death, displacement, and rape of civilians.

The international community is beginning to mobilize. France and Britain have sent their highest-ranking officials to the region. Unfortunately, despite her earlier efforts to end violence in Kenya, the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has not engaged on a comparable level in the DRC and her efforts are needed.

Secretary of State Rice's efforts were critical to ending the violence in Kenya earlier this year.  Her efforts are needed today in Congo.

Call Secretary Rice and tell her that reinforcement of the UN Mission and high level diplomacy are needed to ensure the safety of civilians in the DRC.