John Kerry appoints ex-Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold as special envoy to Africa’s Great Lakes

[karynnj]

Source: New York Daily News

Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Tuesday that he has chosen former Sen. Russ Feingold as the new U.S. special representative for the Great Lakes region of Africa and the ongoing crisis in the Congo.

Congo’s government and rebels, known as the M23, have been negotiating in Uganda since December under a regional bloc, but the talks have often been set back by accusations over who is responsible for rampant violence in Congo’s North Kivu province.


“The suffering in the Great Lakes region of Africa and the ongoing crisis in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to trouble all of us greatly,” Kerry told reporters.

“We are convinced that we have to help the parties find a path to a lasting peace, to a permanent cessation of hostilities and to the disarmament and demobilization of M23, accountability for human rights abuses and, finally, a breaking down of the barriers that are standing between humanitarian aid and the civilians who need it.”



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/russ-feingold-named-special-envoy-africa-great-lakes-article-1.1375827

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Feingold chaired the Africa subcommittee in the SFRC and he was incredible in his concern for human rights violations and other things. He championed the cause of people in the Congo long before others spoke of it. This is a fantastic choice on Kerry's part and Feingold could be incredible in this.

Senator Feingold and Senator Kerry were allies for a long time when both were on the committee. During the Bush years, Kerry, Feingold, Boxer were right in a row - so in hearings they often reinforced each others points or acted on any openings Kerry created.

When Feingold ran for re-election refusing DSCC money, he did approve Kerry sending a personal message to JK's list supporting him and directing people to RF's web site to donate. I thin k it was after he left that Kerry spoke of his intellect and his conscience.

[Scuba]

1. Great choice!

[karynnj]

2. I wonder if that means that there are now more members who served together on a Senate committee

in an administration at the same time. Obama, Biden, Kerry, Hagel and Feingold all served together. (Lugar is old, but very sharp, I wonder if we will see him appointed to some FP team that needs a good Republican on Foreign policy. )

[reteachinwi]

3. Good luck Russ

and stay safe.

[McCamy Taylor]

4. OMG! We're finally going to do something about the world's longest ongoing war?

(sarcasm)

[JNelson6563]

5. Excellent news!

[karynnj]

6. Here's an exerpt of the transcript of the State department announcement

http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/06/210779.htm

As everybody here knows, the suffering in the Great Lakes region of Africa and the ongoing crisis in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to trouble all of us greatly.　 We are convinced that we have to help the parties find a path to a lasting peace, to a permanent cessation of hostilities, and to the disarmament and demobilization of M23, accountability for human rights abuses, and finally, a breaking down of the barriers that are standing between humanitarian aid and the civilians who need it.

For the President and for me, this is a high-level priority and it needs to be met with high-level leadership.　 And that’s why today, I’m pleased to announce the appointment of my former colleague in the United States Senate, Russ Feingold, as the new United States Special Representative for the African Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Russ and I served together in the Senate for some 18 years.　 I have a lot of respect for a lot of qualities of Russ – his intellect, his courage, his passion – but with respect to this mission, chief among those qualities that are important right now is his expertise on Africa.　 In the Senate, when Russ Feingold addressed the issues of Africa, the Senate listened.　 He chaired the Africa subcommittee when I was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and I think my predecessor as chairman, the Vice President Joe Biden, would agree with me that Russ Feingold was the Senate’s leading advocate and expert on Africa.　 I’m very grateful that he has agreed to come back to government and to apply the expertise that he gained those years for the Obama Administration and for the State Department.

Russ will be coordinating with me and with the Bureau of African Affairs to shape our strategy on the many challenges in the region – cross-border security; political, economic, and social assistance issues; and many other issues.　 I mentioned some of them earlier – M23, the violence, the need to build confidence and capacity in the region.　 He will also work very closely with the United Nations Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, Mary Robinson, and he will work specifically to ensure the prompt and full implementation of the UN’s Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework.

[mountain grammy]

7. This region of Africa needs intervention immediately

I think Russ Feingold will do a great job, but wonder if there wasn't someone of African descent available?

[karynnj]

8. There is likely no one who has the experience of dealing with the Senate and the

long time knowledge of the issues. I watched many of Feingold's hearings (All open SFRC hearings are available on their web site.) Would you have a problem if an African American were assigned the comparable job in Europe? I do think it is important to insure that our representatives understand extremely well - and if they know the language - so much the better. I wish that ALL jobs were color blind.

Feingold is incredibly competent and he was rightly was called a conscience of the Senate. Can you name a better AA candidate? (Although she already has a better job, I far prefer Feingold to Susan Rice in this position - based on who they are not sex or color of skin.)

[mountain grammy]

9. I think Feingold is very competent

just wondering if all we have available is white men?

[politicasista]

10. Hopefully, things are starting to get going

on the nominee forefront. Glad to see the Obama administration is focusing on the African region.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201305101755.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/21/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts