Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Special Envoy Feingold's Travel to Europe, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.) Russell D. Feingold will travel to London and The Hague this week to meet with donor partners, including with the Great Lakes Contact Group. He intends to discuss next steps in supporting the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework peace process, including Angola's facilitation of a regional dialogue during its chairmanship of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, implementation of the Nairobi Declarations, and Uganda's alarming Anti-Homosexuality Law. The Contact Group will also discuss support for reform efforts in the D.R.C. and for upcoming elections in the Great Lakes region, among other topics.

Special Envoy Feingold will then travel to Rwanda where he will meet with government officials and visit Congolese refugee populations and to North Kivu, D.R.C., where he will focus on issues related to armed groups as well as community reconciliation and peacebuilding initiatives.