Credit: cd.usembassy.gov /U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Heather Merritt (second from right) in Lubumbashi, DR Congo May 20, 2019 with members of the Police Nationale Congolaise. 

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Heather Merritt visited the DRC last week to support newly-elected Felix President Tshisekedi’s efforts to combat corruption and to discuss opportunities to deepen the U.S.-DRC partnership in civilian security and rule of law. Madam Merritt spoke about her visit to the DR Congo and the INL’s anti-terror, crime, and corruption efforts in Africa during a State Department  teleconference briefing May 23, 2019.  Merritt oversee’s INL’s Africa and Middle East programs office and Middle East Programs, which implements foreign assistance programs in more than 30 African and Middle East partner nations, helping them to sustainably develop their criminal justice and civilian security institutions.

“Certainly parts of Africa are hindered by weaker government institutions, problems with corruption and human rights,”Merritt stated.  “Many weak and fragile states still lack the ability to address transnational terror and criminal threats including those that directly affect the United States. ”   

Following the election of president Tshisekedi earlier this year, the DRC government issued a comprehensive plan to reform its national police, Merritt said.  She added that the INL is working to improve and expand Congolese civilian law enforcement capabilities and to professionalize police procedures and organizations. Merritt said that this year 52 participants from Congo are scheduled to attend 9 different International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) courses, which cover topics including anti-corruption, human trafficking and countering violent extremism.

 ISIS claims first attack in DR Congo

Islamic State on Thursday, April 18 claimed that it killed Congolese soldiers in an attack in Kamango near the border between Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. It was reportedly the first ISIS attack in DRC, prompting fears that Islamist terror is spreading across the African continent.

“There has been recent media reports about illegal armed groups with increasing ties to terrorist organizations, including ISIS, that  is certainly of concern to not only the people and the government of the DRC, but friends and partners like the United States. I think everyone is aware that that is a country that is facing enormous challenges,”  Merritt stated in response to a question by Diplomatic Times regarding the reports of ISIS claiming it killed Congolese soldiers.  “We have a large peacekeeping mission there form the United Nations, so many of our nations are involved in the attempts to bring peace and stability back to the Congo,” Merritt added.  She also pointed out that  INL is working on “a number of things in DRC that may help to increase their resilience to these threats.”   Merritt also stated that INL is looking forward to to some additional work in the future supporting DRC President Tshisekedi’s anti-corruption agenda and continuing to facilitate speedy and effective functioning of the justice system through project, with the goal of “strengthening the country’s resilience to threats, whether they are transnational crime threats or some of the new and emerging terror groups that are exploiting the security vacuum in the DRC. “

Photo by Gary Raynaldo /  DR Congo President Tshisekedi at Council on Foreign Relations policy forum in Washington D.C. Apr. 4, 2019.

PRESIDENT  TSHISEKEDI    WARNS OF  ISLAMIST TERRORIST THREAT IN  DR CONGO – 

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s newly-elected President Tshisekedi invited the United States to support his country’s historic, peaceful change in power through a strong,  strategic partnership. Tshisekedi was in the United States last month seeking to develop a strong relationship with America.  DR Congo President Tshisekedi particularly called on the U.S. to assist it in the country’s challenge in peace and security.

 “There is even an Islamist threat, and we fear, that with defeat of Isis in Syria and Iraq, that these terrorist groups would then try to deploy to Africa, which is really a soft spot for security in the world right now,  and also a formidable  source of natural resources that can be used to finance their terrorism activities.  Therefore the  DRC’s  problems with security is no longer a DRC problem, but problem that has become international.  So we can eradicate problem of terrorism. “

credit: US Department of State@StateINL /  Deputy Assistant Secretary Heather Merritt met with ILEA alumni in Kinshasa – inspectors

Merritt’s visit, her first to the DRC,  was  in response to President Tshisekedi’s request for closer cooperation with the United States during his April 2019 visit to Washington.    “The United States supports President Tshisekedi’s commitment to combat corruption and improve the rule of law in the DRC,” said Merritt. “INL looks forward to advancing our privileged partnership for peace and prosperity through strengthened civil security institutions.”