Dear Ambassador James Entwistle,

By acknowledging that you can learn from Dr. Etienne Tshisekedi as a student learns from a teacher -- "professor" to use your word (article appended) --  you have modeled the respect that has been missing from official relations between the United States and legitimate leaders in Congo since our first missteps at the Congress of Berlin.

It is never too late to do the right thing

Thank you also for hearing the urgent appeal of an injured child and his father for help.

A very special case came to my attention as I was leaving Kananga in late December 2010. By coincidence Administrator Kabibu of the Good Shepherd Hospital at Tshikaji was at the airport to see off a father and his nine-year-old son who were hoping to travel to Boston for reconstructive surgery.  The son, Badibanga Badibanga Yusuf, is severely injured on his left side from an electrical fire, losing his left arm and disfiguring his head, neck chest, and right thigh. I told Administrator Kabibu that visa processing is not something that is likely part of your daily responsibilities but that, at his request, I would alert you to the urgency of this case so that you could expedite it if needed.  After a very pleasant dinner the next day with you and Pam, I forwarded the Badibanga file to you. Within days Badibanga and his father, Badibanga Badibanga Ramazini, were granted visas by the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, a process that often takes years.

Badibanga's progress has been remarkable:

"His first surgery was a wonderful success.  He now has a neck and chin and is in physical therapy daily to retrain his muscles.  He is being evaluated this week for a prosthetic arm.  Future surgeries are needed to create an ear  and work on his eye and mouth.  What a life changing experience this has been for little Badibanga.  He is a wonderful little boy who never complains and is so grateful.  Anne Crane has been an incredible advocate for this child and his dad.  She is working on getting him in school, which was one of his only requests!"  (Barb Lucas of Myers Park Presbyterian Church)

Again your quick action models the respect that has too often been missing from relations between the United States and the citizens of Congo.

The days ahead will not be easy.  In four days Kinshasa will either see political expression respected on a scale never before seen, or another confrontation between a repressive government backed by the international community and unarmed demonstrators commemorating the end of one-party rule.  Already the regime in place has repeatedly denied meeting permits and use of the national stadium to the country's largest pro-democracy political party which has, through its history, hewed to the principles of non-violence.

As ambassador you may be required to implement a policy by higher-ups in the Department of State against your better judgment.  However, I remain hopeful that leaders like Johnnie Carson within State will learn from recent history in other parts of the continent and support a policy in the lead-up to elections which goes beyond the lip service of previous positions by making clear that continued support of the electoral process depends on respect of the people's rights to peaceably assemble and to campaign openly for office in free, fair, and transparent elections. To do otherwise, as I witnessed on December 8, 2010, when millions turned to greet Dr. Tshisekedi upon his return to Kinshasa, would be to paddle against the powerful current of history.  A public statement of US intentions in this regard before April 24 would quite probably save lives.  

Whatever may come, I wanted to thank you for meeting with Dr. Tshisekedi, for the path of respect you have embarked on, and for the consideration you have shown for young Badibanga and his family.  You have done the community of US citizens living and working in Congo proud, and your friend and brother, Kasai Jeff, is somewhere smiling.

Mawejah akubeneshe, akulame.

May God bless you and keep you.

Tshimanga John Metzel