Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa Thomas Perriello will return to the region on August 18 to visit Rwanda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.), and Angola. The Special Envoy's trip will focus on upcoming elections in the region in furtherance of President Obama's policy in support of democratic transitions. Special Envoy Perriello will also engage regional leaders on continued efforts to address the deteriorating situation in Burundi. The United States strongly supports the immediate resumption of dialogue among Burundian stakeholders as the best route to ending the escalating violence and restoring democratic legitimacy to the country. Special Envoy Perriello will focus as well on efforts to end the continued depredations ‎of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and pursue the unresolved implementation of the Nairobi Declarations guiding the reintegration of ex-M23 combatants in the D.R.C.

Special Envoy Perriello will stop in Geneva, Switzerland, on August ‎26-30 for meetings with the international team of envoys, the United Nations and other international organizations. He looks forward to working with the other international envoys to support stakeholders and processes in the region devoted to promoting democratization, stability, and economic development.