Starting from South America, speeding through the world

Chapter 326 East Congo

"This meeting focuses on peacebuilding and humanitarian assistance in Latin America."

The host's voice echoed through the conference hall through the microphone.

The room was large and located in the north wing of the Reagan Building.

A podium and speaking area were set up in front.

A nameplate bearing the logo of the United States Agency for International Development was placed on the table.

The seats below were filled with attendees.

Officials, project managers, and regional directors.

Several congressional staff members were mixed in with them, wearing temporary visitor passes around their necks.

The area further back houses think tank researchers and contractor representatives.

Today's meeting was chaired by the Deputy Assistant Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau.

The man, dressed in a dark gray suit, continued with a smile:

"First of all, I am pleased to introduce today's speaker."

"She has been in charge of the implementation of the DDR project in southern Colombia for the past three years."

"Please welcome Ms. Isabel Carter."

Amid applause, Isabel walked to the podium.

The microphone was positioned slightly high, so she adjusted it and then nodded to the crowd.

"Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity today."

"Over the past three years, USAID has worked closely with the Colombian government and multilateral partners, focusing on supporting transitional work in the peace negotiation process and promoting stability and development at the community level. We have focused primarily on the following areas."

Isabel's voice was calm, devoid of any extraneous emotion.

"First, the reintegration of former armed personnel."

"To date, thousands of former combatants have completed basic identity registration, and a significant proportion of them have entered vocational training or community cooperation programs. We are also supporting the establishment of community centers in several provinces to provide them with basic medical care, education and skills training to help them reintegrate into society."

"Second, rural development and alternative livelihoods."

"In key regions such as Cauca and Narinho, our funded farmer replacement projects cover more than 10,000 households, involving coffee, cocoa, and forestry cultivation. Preliminary data show that participating farmers' incomes have significantly improved compared to traditional coca cultivation, and the market prospects are also more stable."

"Third, justice and security."

"We have worked with the Colombian National Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice to support the establishment of several regional mediation centers and mobile courts, and have handled hundreds of land ownership and community disputes. At the same time, within the framework of the United Nations and the Organization of American States, we have provided basic training and limited support to community policing committees to enhance local security governance capabilities."

She paused for a few seconds after saying this, her gaze sweeping across the audience.

The venue was completely silent.

Several congressional staff members were busy taking notes.

"Of course, challenges still exist."

“Some rural communities face long-term constraints in infrastructure such as market access, transportation, and electricity, which affects the sustainability of alternative livelihood programs. Non-state armed groups remain active in some areas, creating uncertainty in the social security environment. We have also observed that some reintegration programs have high personnel mobility, which requires further consolidation.”

Hearing this, many people nodded slightly.

Isabel took a sip of the water on the table.

“We will continue to work closely with the Colombian government, the United Nations, the World Bank and local NGOs, focusing on expanding rural economic opportunities, improving accessibility to the justice system, and promoting reconciliation and social cohesion at the community level.”

“The Agency for International Development has always maintained that this is a long-term endeavor that cannot be accomplished overnight. Our commitment is to support the choices and efforts of the Colombian people to the fullest extent possible, while ensuring transparency and accountability.”

After the five-minute presentation, the host began with a friendly expression:
"Thank you for your statement, Ms. Carter."

"Now we invite the representative of the State Council's Bureau of Latin American Affairs to make a supplementary statement."

The brown-haired man stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, and took over from Isabel.

Time flew by amidst the bureaucratic reporting.

"Maintain close political coordination and support the negotiation process."

"Strengthen bilateral cooperation frameworks to ensure development and security efforts."

After several rounds of presentations, it was nearly 1 p.m. Finally, the host closed his folder and looked around the room:

"Thank you all for participating. We'll take a 15-minute break and continue later."

Several lawmakers exchanged glances with their assistants.

The sound of a chair moving filled the room, and the atmosphere immediately relaxed.

Isabel also got up with them, stretched, picked up her water glass, and walked outside.

However, just as they stepped out of the gate, a delighted voice came from the right:

"Isabel? Is it really you?"

She turned her head and saw a tall man standing not far away.

Isabel paused for a moment, then laughed:

"Thomas? How long has it been?"

The man opened his arms and warmly greeted them:
"Let me think, two years? Or three years?"

"If it weren't for Liz's news, I would have thought you had been transferred to New York."

“I’m still working on the Latin America project, and I came back for that.”

Isabel straightened up after a brief hug with him:
"But what about you? I haven't heard from you in a long time. What have you been busy with?"

"Me?" Thomas chuckled twice.

“I’ve spent most of my time in Africa these past few years – Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, going back and forth.”

The two walked side by side to the floor-to-ceiling window.

A light rain was falling outside, blurring the lights on Pennsylvania Avenue.

"Which organization are you working for now?" Isabel asked.

“The International Crisis Group,” Thomas said, “is primarily focused on the conflicts in the Great Lakes region.”

Isabel of the Great Lakes region paused for a moment.

"I saw on the news that the situation in Congo has become tense again recently?"

“Nervous? You really think it’s just nervousness?” Thomas shook his head meaningfully.

Isabel raised an eyebrow.

"At least from the reports I've received, it's mainly armed conflict that's causing population loss and an increase in refugees, right?"

Upon hearing this, Thomas smiled wryly and spread his palms.

“That’s not an ‘armed conflict,’ but a full-scale war.”

“The participants are no longer small groups of rebels. They have organized armed units—not AK47s and secondhand rocket launchers, but thermobaric weapons and heavy artillery. Can you imagine? Those things are flying everywhere in North Kivu province.”

Isabel was even more surprised when she heard this.

"I thought the UN and African Union forces were still present?"

“In a war of this scale, nothing else matters,” Thomas said.

“Millions of people have been forced to relocate across the entire region, including the whole of the east—Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Manema, every province you can think of.”

"That was...it was...oh my god. I don't know how to describe it."

After he finished speaking, the two fell silent.

After a while, Thomas spoke again:
"Fortunately, Kinshasa is preparing to sign a ceasefire agreement, indirectly acknowledging the existence of the rebels."

"Are they going to abandon the entire East?" Isabel asked, somewhat lost in thought.

“It might be temporary, or it might become permanent.” Thomas shrugged.

Anyway, I'll probably be going there next month, wish me luck.

(End of this chapter)