Grant from the ‘Ambassador’s Fund for Refugees’ To Be Used for Hospital Renovation in Katanga Province

The American Embassy in Kinshasa provided a $20,000 grant toward the rehabilitation of the Moba General Hospital in Katanga province, September 22.  The grant is part of the Ambassador’s Fund for Refugees, a special fund used to meet small financial shortfalls in DRC refugee programs. (Complete text)

U.S. Ambassador
Garvelink, Assistant
Secretary of State
Kramer, and DRC
Foreign Minister
Mbusa Nyamwisi
observe a minute's
silence at the DRC
Foreign Ministry
(See more photos)

Patriot Day, 2008

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

September 11, 2001, was etched into America's memory when 19 terrorists attacked us with barbarity unequaled in our history. On Patriot Day, we cherish the memory of the thousands of innocent victims lost, extend our thoughts and prayers to their families, and honor the heroic men and women who risked and sacrificed their lives so others might survive.
(Complete text)

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Visits DRC

Assistant Secretary David J. Kramer visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo on September 10-11, 2008 to consult with local civil society groups, members of parliament, and government officials regarding democracy and human rights issues. During his visit, Mr. Kramer reiterated the support of the United States Government for the DRC complex transition toward democracy in the wake of the successful holding of presidential and parliamentary elections in 2006.

President Kabila and
Assistant Secretary of
State Jendayi Frazer
discuss the current
situation in eastern
Congo. Ambassador
William Garvelink also
participated in the
meeting
(more photos)

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Visits DRC

Ms. Jendayi Frazer, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, visited the DRC on September 1 to reiterate the support of the U.S. government to ongoing peace efforts in eastern DRC. During her visit, Ms. Frazer discussed the current situation in the troubled Kivu region with DRC President Joseph Kabila and DRC Defense Minister Chikez Diemu. Despite recent clashes that have disrupted peace and threatened the local population, Assistant Secretary Frazer noted that it is still the hope of the U.S. government that peace will return to the Kivus.
 

American Expert Discusses U.S. Politics in Kinshasa

Political Scientist Arun Kapil met with Congolese journalists, political scientists, university students and NGO activists August 28-29 in Kinshasa to examine and explain the American electoral process in general, and the 2008 presidential election campaign in particular.  In dynamic sessions with the media and his Congolese counterparts, Arun Kapil, clearly and thoroughly described the American political process -- state primaries and caucuses, fund raising, party conventions, and the fall electoral campaigns -- in broad terms, and as they specifically relate to the 2008 election. (complete text)

Podcasting Presentation at American Cultural Center

On August 25, 2008, Embassy Kinshasa hosted a podcast program for Kinshasa radio journalists. Deputy Chief of Mission Samuel Brock and Pubilc Affairs Officer Katya Thomas introduced the invited media representatives to the new technology of podcasting, and more particularly to "America.gov" podcasts, which reflect the diversity of the U.S. society and culture. The journalists responded enthusiastically to the event and showed great desire to learn more about this new multimedia tool.