Congo tests boundaries of democracy, climate action during Blinken visit

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken greets former NBA basketball superstar and Congo native Dikembe Mutombo, left, as they take the stage with the Rainbow Band to say a few words at Villa Kilimanjaro in Kinshasa, Congo. Within hours of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s arrival in the Democratic Republic of Congo — as he repeatedly urged free, fair and “on time” presidential elections next year — its government arrested a key opposition leader. Blinken spoke after meeting with Congolese computer students who are studying election transparency and how to counter disinformation, a program partially paid for by the U.S. Tshisekedi’s assumption of the presidency in January 2019 marked the first peaceful transfer of power in Congo since it gained independence more than 60 years ago, but it came as part of a power-sharing arrangement that left his legitimacy questioned. “DR Congo under President Félix Tshisekedi is facing widespread human rights abuses and corruption, protracted attacks on civilians by numerous armed groups, and failed democratic institutions,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement. “The Congo Basin’s forests and peatlands, which are essential in the fight against climate change, are at increasing risk of logging and mining.” Ida Sawyer, who handles conflict resolution for the human rights group and is an expert on Africa, called for the Biden administration to re-appoint a special envoy for the Great Lakes region that includes Congo and Rwanda.