Washington, DC — The departing ambassador to the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dr. Faida Mitifu, has been in demand as a spokesperson for her country and as a person who could explain Africa's resilience and prospects to Americans. At a Diplomatic Partnership reception for her at the U.S. Department of State, Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield commended her as an unusually skilled envoy, conveying important understandings between the two governments. Following are Ambassador Mitifu's remarks at the reception.
Honorable Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Ambassador Selfridge
Excellencies & Members of the Diplomatic Corp
Representatives of the Department of State
Representatives of the Private Sector
Representatives of the NGO communities
Friends of the Congo
My Sisters and Brothers (you know who you are)
Fellow Congolese
Staff members of the DRC Embassy
Ladies and Gentlemen
I would like to thank Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield, for honoring my family and myself with her presence; I thank the US Department of State and especially the Office of the Chief of Protocol of the United States, Ambassador Selfridge, for organizing this farewell reception in one of the most beautiful room of this building.
I see so many people in this room today, some of whom go back to my early days in Washington - two former Congo Desk Officers I have worked with very closely, former and current officials from the US administration. I thank each and every one present today for making time to come and be part of this milestone. Some of you have come from out of state to be part of this show of love, friendship, sisterhood, brotherhood and partnership we have built together throughout the years I have been in Washington.
To my dear colleagues and members of the diplomatic corps, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be here this afternoon. I know first hand how hectic things can be in Washington, DC and how every minute is precious. We have worked on many issues affecting the US and the continent of Africa together. Our work in collaboration with our friends from the US Administration culminated to last year's US-Africa Leaders' Summit. I am grateful for the time we invested to the betterment of our mother land. Your friendship and collaboration has been a driving force during my journey in Washington, and we have achieved so much together.
I have been the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United States of America much longer than many have had the privilege of representing their countries. It's been a great honor serving my country for that long! That period has ranged from the most challenging times my country has faced in its history, to the best of times; from the time when the DRC was not given a chance of survival to presidential visits at the White House and meetings between DRC and US heads of State; we witnessed visits by two Secretaries of State to the DRC and other high level officials of the US administration.
Even in challenging times and disagreement on issues, continuing dialogue and candid exchanges have characterized relations between our two governments. The US has played an important role leading to the relative peace the people of Congo have enjoyed and the democratic processes that have led to two general elections so far.
During my time in Washington, the DRC has made considerable efforts to improve its economy and its investment climate and to implement several reforms to boost the country's development. I am proud to have been part of this evolving situation and to have participated in the reconstruction of my country as envisioned by President Kabila.
Back in 1999, when it seemed that everybody has given up on us, a small group of investors from California was seeking an introduction into the DRC cellular phone market. To make the story short, the company exceeded all expectations. Today, VODACOM caters to more than 10,000,000 Congolese and counting and has created thousands of jobs for young people.
A couple of years later, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold operations acquired one of the world's largest deposit of copper and cobalt of Tenke Fungurume. Today, this US investment is worth more than $2.5 billion US dollars. TFM is the largest US investment in the Congo so far. Its operations in the DR Congo has created more than 3000 jobs and has transformed for the better the communities in the areas it operates.
Also, DRC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chevron Corporation for the construction of a gas pipeline. This pipeline presents regional development opportunities.
Seaboard Corporation, an American flour mill company, had been operating in the DRC for many years. It came a time when, frustrated and discouraged, the company wanted to close its operations. Thanks to interaction with the government, the company kept its doors open. Today, Seaboard has expanded its business ventures by investing over 100 million US dollars over the past 10 years. The company has just opened one of the largest bakeries in the capital city of Kinshasa and makes over 1,000,000 loaves of bread daily.
The DRC as well as the US Administration continue to encourage and support efforts by individuals and NGOs whose work continues to make a difference in the daily lives of Congolese men and women. Just to mention a few: The Dikembe Foundation has built a 300 beds Hospital in Kinshasa to improve the health of our people; NGOs such as V-Day and Eastern Congo Initiative are investing in women's empowerment in the Eastern part of the country. Soon you will be able to drink women-produced coffee from South-Kivu.
In the US, I have worked with the African Diaspora as well as the Africa Society at the National Summit on Africa to empower young Americans' knowledge of Africa for even better future policies toward Africa. Throughout the years, we have built an excellent partnership with CCA (Corporate Council on Africa) to promote US investments in Africa, and in DRC in particular, through the biennial US-Africa conference and thanks to several trade missions and seminars we organized in the DRC in coordination with the private sector from both countries and staff members at CCA.
Honorable Thomas-Greenfield
Ambassador Selfridge
Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen
The Department of State's 'Experience America' program has opened doors outside the beltway. These organized visits to different cities and states have led to many opportunities for the US as well to many of our countries. It has allowed us to seize more opportunities for trade and investments. President Joseph Kabila visited states such as Illinois, Iowa and Arizona. Because of his focus on agriculture development as the engine for renewable wealth, the DRC government has purchased more than 2000 tractors used today by farmers around the country in accordance to our agricultural programs.
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It's been a great privilege and honor to serve my country in the United States. I will always be grateful for the warmth and hospitality the American people surrounded me and my family during my stay here. I am a proud Congolese who loves dearly her country. But I have also come to love the United States of America which is home to my US born children and grand-children. Both I and my dear husband Maurice, who has been through thick and thin and by my side for 35 years, went to school in this country. As I close this chapter and begin a new one, I want you to know that I will be leaving, but this country and its people will forever remain with me.
It's very hard for me to adequately express my gratitude to all of you here because words don't always serve me well at times like these. I have a great deal of emotion. So what I will tell you quite simply is that I want us to remain in contact. I want you to come to the DRC, feel the warmth of my proud and resilient people and see for yourselves my country's inner beauty, the opportunities it presents and its challenges. These challenges, I have to say, also present opportunities for American organizations and companies looking to share their expertise with Congolese and expand their businesses. I dare invite you to travel with us on the journey ahead.
I will leave for the DRC within days to come and there, I will continue to serve my country, my people and my government. I want you to know that when I am here in Washington, DC or anywhere in this great country of yours I will make sure I remain in touch. So, I am not saying good bye, but I am just saying so long for now. I wish you all peace, love and great success.
Thank you once again.
