As most of you know, Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton visited 7 countries last week throughout Africa. One of her stops was to the Democratic Republic of Congo. One of her appointments was to meet with 8 women from Heal Africa, who were speaking on behalf of countless women who have been victimized in the most brutal ways during the Eastern Congo conflict. Heal Africa is a holistic hospital serving this hurting community. Check out the video to see a little about the women involved with Heal Africa.

  

A dear friend of mine, Esther Ntoto, works with Heal Africa and was one of the 8 women speaking with Clinton. Looking at the picture here, Esther is the one to the left of Clinton wearing the brown top and glasses. ConversantLife interviewed Esther and her husband Camille via podcast last year. You can listen to them talk more about their work in Eastern Congo here.

 

I received an email from Esther this morning. She enclosed a letter from her friend and colleague at Heal Africa. I think it is important to hear from the people who are directly being affected in addition to reading about these events from our news sources. It’s important to gain the perspective from the individuals themselves. Here is what Heal Africa’s Gender Advisor had to say after Clinton’s visit.

 

For a short while yesterday afternoon, the NGO I work for found itself at the epicenter of international media attention. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton came to visit the HEAL Africa hospital to interview survivors of sexual violence and to participate in a roundtable discussion with women activists. Even though most of my Congolese colleagues did not know much about Clinton, they were glad about her visit because they understand its symbolic importance. No one that high up in the US government had visited DRC in years, let alone taken the time to personally meet the women affected by the ongoing conflict. Clinton brought much-needed recognition to their struggle.

The DRC was an ally of the US during the Cold War; when it ended, the West turned their backs and left the country to Mobutu’s regime and whoever else was going to exploit Congo’s riches and wage war on its soil. The conflict in destabilized the whole region and is threatening to do so again. Despite of its mineral riches, the DRC itself is of no significant economic interest to the US. But with the new AGOA ready to go, the US needs stability in the region in order to secure its economic interest. At the same time her concern with the problem of sexual violence and gender based violence in Eastern DRC fits her track record as a formidable advocate for women’s rights. She delivered a speech that addressed the underlying problems with an unusual amount of openness. She spoke about the strength and perseverance of the Congolese people, citing the Congolese proverb ‘no matter how long the night, the day is sure to come’. Her words touched my heart, but my feelings were mixed.

After all, everything seemed to be centered on her announcement of a $17 million aid package that will be administered through USAID. Much needed and appreciated funds - but wait a minute. HEAL Africa, the local organization that was hosting the event, has a hospital with 7 years of experience in treating survivors of sexual violence. However, we learned only through the speech of our honored visitor that USAID is planning to construct a hospital to do the same work, in the same city. And even though Clinton claimed that funds would be distributed to local NGOs, we found out shortly afterwards that the lion’s share would go to the International Rescue Committee.

I don’t believe Clinton had been well-informed on the dynamics of aid in Eastern DRC, though it is certainly no secret that aid is a cut-throat business. Competition for funding, attention and prestige is huge. As a result, cooperation between of GOs and NGOs is lacking or poorly coordinated. Communication needs to be improved, and new initiatives need to be matched with what is already being done. What we saw happen yesterday was the opposite.

In the end, it was the roundtable that rocked the house. Activists like Esther Ntoto, Christine Schuler-Dreschyver and Chouchou Namegabe made passionate claims for freedom of speech, education for all and the need to get the Congolese army under control. They were applauded for their criticism of an international community that comes here in great numbers and drives up the cost of living with their abundant aid money (yes I am a part of those), yet fails to protect and often leaves local NGOs with only as much as a business card.

The Secretary replied that Congo’s future is up to the Congolese, a variation of the statements made by Obama during his last visit to Africa. She promised she would leave more than only a business card, but that she also does not have a magic wand. Of course she doesn’t – none of us do. But the reactions of my Congolese colleagues have shown me how desperate they all are for change and how much they wish that someone, somewhere, may be able to bring it in one miraculous sweep. Some of them believe that Clinton’s visit is the beginning of the end of the war. I only wish this was true.

 

The Congo needs her Savior. The Congo needs our prayers. The Congo needs healing and restoration. What are your thoughts on Clinton’s trip to Africa? What do you think should be done to help end this 15 year conflict?