Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 4.djvu/879

 PUBLIC LAW 103-381—OCT. 19, 1994 108 STAT. 3513 Public Law 103-381 103d Congress An Act To authorize assistance to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa. Oct. 19, 1994 [S. 2475] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, African Conflict Resolution Act. SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE. 22 USC 2151 This Act may be cited as the "African Conflict Resolution Act". note. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF POLICY. 22 USC 2151 (a) FINDINGS. —The Congress makes the following findings: (1) It is in the national interest of the United States to help build African capability in conflict resolution. A relatively small investment of assistance in promoting African conflict resolution— (A) would reduce the enormous human sufTering which is caused by wars in Africa; (B) would help the United States avoid huge future expenditures necessitated by Somalia-Uke humanitarian disasters; and (C) would reduce the need for United Nations intervention as African institutions develop the ability to resolve African conflicts. (2) Africa, to a greater extent than any other continent, is afflicted by war. Africa has been marred by more than 20 major civil wars since 1960. Rwanda, Somalia, Angola, Sudan, Liberia, and Burundi are among those countries that have recently suffered serious armed conflict. (3) In the last decade alone, between 2,000,000 and 4,000,000 Africans have died because of war. There were 5,200,000 refugees and 13,100,000 displaced people in Africa in 1993. (4) Millions more Africans are currently at risk of warrelated death. Looming or ongoing conflicts in Zaire, Angola, Sudan, Rwanda, and other countries threaten Africa's future. (5) War has caused untold economic and social damage to the countries of Africa. Food production is impossible in conflict areas, and famine often results. Widespread conflict has condemned many of Africa's children to lives of misery and, in certain cases, has threatened the existence of traditional African cultures. (6) Conflict and instability in Africa, particularly in large, potentially rich countries such as Angola, Sudan, and Zaire, deprive the global economy of resources and opportunities for trade and investment. Peace in these countries could make

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