Hollywood star Affleck urges US investment in DR Congo
By: Agence France-Presse
February 27, 2014 7:50 AM

Ben Affleck. AFP FILE PHOTO
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
WASHINGTON DC - Hollywood star Ben Affleck called Wednesday for
targeted investment in the private sector in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo, where he sees a window of opportunity to end a
cycle of unrest.
The A-list actor and director, who has founded a non-profit group
called the Eastern Congo Initiative and has made repeated trips to the
region, advocated the United States shift its priorities in delivering
aid, in a hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"People would rather be invested in than accept aid, would rather have
a job than live in a camp," he said.
Specific, small-scale investments are sometimes better than massive
projects because they can be monitored more closely, Affleck argued,
plugging his organization's involvement in building a partnership
between local cocoa growers and organic chocolate company Theo.
"It's good business for the Congolese and it's paying off for this
American company," which will buy 640 tons of cocoa from Congolese
growers this year, he said, emphasizing "economic development is the
key for sustainable growth."
The "Argo" star testified alongside Roger Meece, former US ambassador
to Kinshasa, and conflict economy expert Raymond Gilpin, from the
Africa Center for Strategic Studies of the National Defense
University.
Along with former Senator Russ Feingold, President Barack Obama's
envoy to the region, all four expressed optimism about progress in the
conflict-torn, but resource-rich DRC, where they said a recent peace
deal that ended hostilities with the M23 rebel group was a major step
forward.
They praised the UN's "intervention brigade," whose mandate was
extended beyond peacekeeping, as being pivotal in bringing about the
peace deal.
But they said signficant reforms to the security sector are needed, as
well as elections.
Feingold noted that Washington has set aside $3.7 million to support
the DRC's next elections -- a "paltry sum."
"I think this is something we should heavily engage in," he urged.
Affleck, who also met US Secretary of State John Kerry, said the
troubled 2011 election, following a mostly well-regarded 2006
presidential vote, demonstrated the need for continued international
involvement.
"This is a region that's suffered enormous damage and trauma. And this
fire is now abating a little bit, and we have a window where
engagement on the part of secretary, the president, the Congress all
collectively can make a real difference," he said at the State
Department.
"And I think historically, there's an instinct to sort of put out one
fire and go to the next fire. And this is a point where we can act to
prevent the fire from igniting again."
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