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U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Fact Sheet: Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following fact sheet:* * *
NONSTATE VIOLATORS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC)
Introduction
Against the backdrop of prolonged political instability, weak state authority, and chronic insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)--a vast and resource-rich yet poverty-stricken country that has faced recurring armed conflict since the mid-1990s--nonstate actors have recently escalated attacks on religious communities. Such armed groups operate with relative impunity ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 31 -- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following fact sheet: * * * NONSTATE VIOLATORS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC) Introduction Against the backdrop of prolonged political instability, weak state authority, and chronic insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)--a vast and resource-rich yet poverty-stricken country that has faced recurring armed conflict since the mid-1990s--nonstate actors have recently escalated attacks on religious communities. Such armed groups operate with relative impunityamid ongoing gaps in governance, contested territorial control, and limited civilian protection, particularly in the country's eastern provinces.
Within this context, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria - the Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC), has posed an especially alarming threat to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in the DRC by violently targeting religious communities and their houses of worship, particularly in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. The group's affiliation with Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) and its invoking and forcibly applying a violent interpretation of Islam have fueled its intensified attacks on religious communities-- especially Christians--and their leaders.
This publication provides an overview of these worsening religious freedom conditions in the DRC at the hands of nonstate actors, with an emphasis on the ADF. It also evaluates state and international responses to these challenges while considering ongoing implications for religious freedom in the country.
State Fragility and Demographic Complexity
The DRC is one of Central Africa's most diverse countries, with more than 200 ethnic and tribal groups within a population of approximately 115 million. About 95 percent of the population identify as Christian, approximately one to two percent identify as Muslim, and three to four percent likely adhere to indigenous or other religious beliefs.
Political and societal instability--resulting from decades of weak state authority, disputed governance, and a series of armed insurgent movements--have plagued the DRC's eastern region in particular, since conflict and mass displacement spilled over from neighboring Rwanda in the aftermath of that country's genocide in the mid1990s. Nonstate actors have long proliferated in eastern DRC, including groups such as Mai-Mai militias, the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), and the dominant March 23 (M23) movement. M23 first rebelled near Goma in 2012 and has staged a resurgence since 2021 with reported Rwandan support, despite a recent peace agreement.
The ADF: Acute Threat to Religious Freedom
The ADF has long posed a direct and significant threat to religious freedom in the DRC. The group first emerged in the mid-1990s in nearby Uganda as a collaboration of militants espousing a violent interpretation of Islam with armed opposition elements that sought to overthrow the Ugandan government. Ugandan military operations forced the group to relocate to eastern DRC in the early 2000s, where it sought to establish a long-term foothold in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Although the ADF began its operations in the DRC as a localized insurgency with limited ideological coherence, it quickly gained a reputation for its horrific violence against civilians as well as its mass looting and exploitation of local resources-- including metals and rare earth minerals that have long attracted violent competition rather than economic prosperity--to sustain its operations.
From Local Insurgency to Transnational Alignment
The ADF began to align itself with ISCAP in 2017, adopting aspects of the terrorist group's ideology, rhetoric, and tactics. It formally pledged allegiance to ISCAP in 2019, rebranding itself as ISIS-DRC and strengthening its operational capabilities as well as its ideological alignment with the broader network of ISIS affiliates across central Africa. While experts have debated the actual degree of ISCAP's oversight and involvement in the ADF's operations, both groups have since shared responsibility for committing religious freedom violations of escalating brutality, including mass killings, abductions, and other attacks explicitly targeting religious communities.
Presently, the ADF does not exercise sustained or significant territorial control, instead pursuing dominance through a combination of transient, elusive presence and tactical operations in select areas of eastern DRC. As such, it does not meet the standard for designation as an entity of particular concern (EPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended by the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016.
The ADF's Escalation: Targeted Assaults on Christian Communities
The ADF has stepped up its operations in the last two years, carrying out a sustained pattern of attacks in eastern DRC that represents a direct assault on religious freedom, particularly for Christian communities in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. In 2024, ADF fighters reportedly carried out multiple assaults on predominantly Christian villages and church gatherings in and around Beni, North Kivu, including attacks on prayer meetings and the killing of local pastors and congregants. Over the course of one week in July that year, the ADF killed an estimated 40 Christians, which led to a series of abductions and forced displacement that prompted some churches to suspend services or close altogether.
This pattern intensified in 2025 with several high-profile massacres linked to religious settings and gatherings. In February of that year, ADF assailants abducted civilians from Christian villages in North Kivu and later killed dozens at a Protestant church in the Kasanga area. In July 2025, the group carried out a major assault on worshipers attending a night vigil at a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri Province, killing dozens of men, women, and children gathered for prayer. Attacks throughout the year continued to strike Christian villages, funeral wakes, and facilities, reinforcing community members' fears that religious spaces made them more vulnerable rather than offering them a refuge from violence. These incidents drew heightened international concern from governments, human rights bodies, and religious freedom advocates.
Early 2026 has brought no respite from ADF violence, as the group has continued to carry out attacks on predominantly Christian areas. In one display of its depravity, the group executed around 70 civilians in a Christian village in North Kivu in February, beheading men, women, children, and elderly victims alike.
Peacebuilding Efforts and Persistent FoRB Challenges
Despite its ongoing struggle to establish long-term stability and comprehensive governance, the DRC government has collaborated over the last five years with regional and multilateral partners to stem ADF, M23, and other nonstate violence. In 2021, it deployed the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) in sustained operations against the ADF--including the joint Operation Shujaa with Ugandan forces--and increased patrols in Beni, Lubero, and Ituri. The DRC's cooperation with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has further bolstered its troop presence and civilian protection. In 2025, a military court convicted 23 people for collaborating with or supporting the ADF.
U.S. Engagement in Multilateral Efforts toward Regional Peace
In late 2025 and early 2026, the United States has directly engaged in efforts to address insecurity in eastern DRC; in 2025, the administration of President Donald J. Trump helped broker the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between the DRC and Rwanda while also supporting related diplomatic initiatives, targeted sanctions against armed groups, and humanitarian and democratic assistance programs.
Despite these efforts, insecurity remains high in eastern DRC as authorities face serious challenges in safeguarding civilians and preventing reprisals. The ADF and other nonstate actors represent persistent threats to religious communities in the area, as mass killings, abductions, and attacks on places of worship continue to generate widespread fear, drive displacement, and disrupt communal religious life. These challenges highlight the pressing need for sustained security operations, strengthened accountability, and robust civilian protection measures in the DRC to ensure that all are able to live, worship, and practice their religion or belief freely.
Professional Staff
Michael Ardovino
Policy Analyst
Gretchen Birkle
Senior Advisor
Susan Bishai
Senior Policy Analyst
Mollie Blum
Policy Analyst
Guillermo Cantor
Director of Research and Policy
Serena Doan
Supervisory Policy Analyst
Kaylee Fisher
Public Affairs Specialist
Andrew Hamm
Victims List Database Specialist
Sema Hasan
Senior Policy Analyst
Thomas Kraemer
Chief Administrative Officer
Kirsten Lavery
Supervisory Policy Analyst and
International Legal Specialist
Veronica McCarthy
Government Affairs Specialist
Hilary Miller
Policy Analyst
Nora Morton
Operations Specialist
Molly Naylor-Komyatte
Policy Analyst
Dylan Schexnaydre
Policy Analyst
Katherine Todd
Policy Analyst
Ross Tokola
Policy Analyst
Brett Warner
Administrative Specialist
Scott Weiner
Supervisory Policy Analyst
Kurt Werthmuller
Supervisory Policy Analyst
Nathan Wineinger
Chief of Public Affairs
Jean Wu
Policy Analyst
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/2026%20DRC%20Factsheet.pdf
What They Are Saying: Leaders Across America Commend EPA's Action to Finalize Historic Renewable Fuel Standards and Support America's Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, March 30 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:* * *
What They Are Saying: Leaders Across America Commend EPA's Action to Finalize Historic Renewable Fuel Standards and Support America's Rural Communities
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WASHINGTON - On Friday, March 27, 2026, at the White House Great American Agriculture Celebration on the South Lawn, President Trump announced that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the historic Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) "Set 2" final rule. This rule establishes the renewable fuel volume requirements for 2026 and ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 30 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * What They Are Saying: Leaders Across America Commend EPA's Action to Finalize Historic Renewable Fuel Standards and Support America's Rural Communities * WASHINGTON - On Friday, March 27, 2026, at the White House Great American Agriculture Celebration on the South Lawn, President Trump announced that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the historic Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) "Set 2" final rule. This rule establishes the renewable fuel volume requirements for 2026 and2027 at the highest levels in program history, increasing the use of homegrown American biofuels as the Trump EPA continues putting American farmers first and ensuring American energy independence. By reducing America's reliance on foreign oil and delivering long-term certainty for America's farmers, the "Set 2" rule creates a larger, more reliable domestic market for U.S. crops - strengthening rural economies and creating thousands of jobs throughout the country.
Here's what people are saying:
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins: "[This] announcement is truly historic for our nation's farmers and energy producers. These numbers represent the highest levels of biofuels ever required to be blended into our fuel supply. With President Trump and Administrator Zeldin's leadership, these historically high volumes are expected to create a $3 to $4 billion dollar increase in net farm income. The Renewable Fuel Standard Set 2 Rule will create a $31 billion dollar value for American corn and soybean oil for biofuel production in 2026, which is $2 billion more than in 2025. Our farmers are stepping up to grow American energy dominance."
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds: "Grateful for the announcement from President Trump and EPA on the RVOs for 2026 and 2027. [This] news strengthens energy security and provides certainty and support for our farm families and biofuel producers!"
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA): "Thanks to President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for keeping promises to rural America and raising RVOs to HISTORIC levels. Great news for Iowa farmers and biofuel producers and will help lower gas prices. Also looking forward to the half values for foreign fuels feedstock to put American farmers first."
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA): "I can think of no better way to wrap up two weeks of honoring Iowa farmers than by elevating their voices and values to the highest levels. [This] announcement underscores the Trump Administration's commitment to upholding the vital role homegrown biofuels and Iowa agriculture play in lowering fuel prices and bolstering our nation's energy independence. After years of work to support our farmers and producers, I'm thrilled to have helped deliver the highest levels of biofuel blends for our nation's fuel supply and strengthen the integrity of the RFS to create an even more prosperous rural America."
Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS): "Great news for Kansas farmers & biofuels producers! EPA finalized new Renewable Fuel Standards, boosting renewable fuel volumes & supporting domestic markets for biofuels. I applaud the [Administration] for this decision which will strengthen U.S. energy independence & rural economies."
Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS): "Big win for Kansas farmers. Thanks to President Trump and Administrator Zeldin, EPA just finalized the highest biofuel volumes in program history-meaning more demand, more income, and more jobs for Kansas farmers. This is what putting American agriculture first looks like."
Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04): "This announcement recognizes the critical role that homegrown biofuels play in strengthening our rural economy and securing our nation's energy future. I applaud President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for finalizing the strongest commitment to our nation's farmers, consumers, and domestic energy producers ever proposed. I look forward to working with the [Trump] Administration to ensure our farmers and biofuels producers remain at the forefront of our nation's energy future."
Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-03): "The key role biofuels play in achieving American energy independence has never been clearer. [This] announcement will support our agriculture producers, provide much-needed certainty to the industry, and expand consumers' access to affordable liquid fuels. I thank EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Trump for their continued support of American biofuels and look forward to working together to strengthen American energy production."
Representative Darin LaHood (R-IL-16): "This is excellent news for [Illinois 16] farmers and producers! The new RFS rules will provide more certainty for our ag and biofuels industries, drive economic growth in our rural communities, and strengthen domestic energy security."
Representative Zach Nunn (R-IA-03): "[This] RFS rule sets the highest renewable fuel volumes in program history. Strong for ethanol, historic for biodiesel. I was at the White House to stand with Iowa's farmers and producers as these volumes were finalized."
Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) President Michael McAdams: "We commend the [Trump] Administration for finalizing this rule. The two-year RVO is a clear, unambiguous signal to ABFA's members and broader energy economy: the Trump administration is committed to a bold vision supporting the advanced biofuels industry and recognizing the critical role our fuels play in advancing America's energy dominance. This rule firmly establishes policy certainty for future investment and robust production at a time when stability and diversification of our energy souring is more important than ever in the face of geopolitical uncertainty. We appreciate the EPA's hard work to develop and finalize a rule which accurately reflects the capacity of the advanced biofuels industry and our agriculture sector to deliver affordable renewable fuels. These numbers recognize significant growth in our biomass-based diesel, renewable diesel, and [Synthetic Aviation Fuel] sectors and supports continued success for advanced biofuels production in the years to come."
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: "We also appreciate the EPA for finalizing record-high renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027, which will help drive increased demand for American grown crops."
American Soybean Association (ASA) President Scott Metzger: "U.S. soybean farmers needed a win to boost domestic markets this year, and President Trump, Administrator Zeldin, and Secretary Rollins delivered in a big way. ASA is grateful for the tireless efforts of EPA and USDA to ensure the soy biofuel value chain could benefit from the strongest RVOs ever finalized. The 2026-2027 RVOs will increase soybean oil use, boost U.S. soybean processing, and grow domestic biofuel markets for our crop. ASA and our soybean farmer members applaud the Trump Administration for getting this tremendous rule across the finish line."
Clean Fuels Alliance Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik: "The entire U.S. clean fuel industry - from farmers and feedstock providers to fuel customers - is grateful to see this rule finalized. U.S. biodiesel, renewable diesel, and Synthetic Aviation Fuel producers are eager to get to work and bring the 7 billion gallons of existing production capacity up to speed to meet 10% or more of America's demand for diesel fuel. The robust biomass-based diesel volumes set in this rule support America's farmers and consumers. Biodiesel and renewable diesel represent 10% of the value of every bushel of U.S.-grown soybeans, contributing to President Trump's desire for American energy dominance and domestic market demand for agriculture commodities. American farmers and other feedstock providers are eager for the growing domestic clean fuel market to drive value in agriculture, along with economic growth and job creation in rural communities. American consumers are desperate for secure, affordable domestic energy. [This] rule is a clear win for the nation's energy security."
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor: "With this rulemaking, EPA and the [Trump] Administration are reinforcing their unwavering support for American-made biofuels and sending a strong signal about the continued role biofuels like ethanol will play in delivering American energy dominance and greater prosperity to the heartland. We commend President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and USDA Secretary Rollins for working together to finalize this historic, growth-oriented proposal, which opens the market for more than 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuel in 2026 and 2027...We are grateful to President Trump and his Administration for its steadfast support for homegrown biofuels, and for setting a new high watermark for American ethanol."
Minnesota Bio-Fuels Executive Director Brian Werner: "Setting robust renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2026 and 2027 will provide immediate stability in renewable fuel markets and a path for growth in renewable fuel production. We thank the [Trump] Administration for setting the highest volumes in history, and our bipartisan delegation... Every gallon of ethanol blended into gasoline displaces a gallon of petroleum, makes us less dependent on imports from volatile regions and contested shipping lanes around the globe, and most importantly - lowers prices at the pump for consumers. Together, these federal actions will help mitigate concerns about gasoline affordability and supply while helping support rural communities and the farm economy."
National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower: "Our deep thanks goes to President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for releasing these robust RVO numbers in an exceptionally timely manner and, appropriately, during an event honoring America's farmers. This action provides certainty to corn farmers across the country who rely on a stable biofuels industry."
National Energy and Fuels Institute President Jim Collura: "We applaud the Trump Administration's strong commitment to renewable liquid heating fuels, American farmers and biofuel producers, and a more competitive future for our mostly family-run heating fuel businesses. These policies help ensure our industry can continue investing, innovating, and delivering affordable, reliable and cleaner fuels to American consumers."
National Oilseeds Processors Association President & CEO Devin Mogler: "President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and Secretary Rollins have delivered a landmark rule that provides the certainty and confidence American farmers and processors need. The historic volumes for biomass-based diesel, the 70 percent reallocation of waived gallons, and the commitment to account for SREs on a go-forward basis restores program integrity and puts the RFS back on a growth trajectory. We also welcome the inclusion of the half-RIN for finished fuels and feedstocks beginning in 2028, a critical step toward ensuring the RFS supports American farmers and domestic manufacturing first and foremost, as it was always intended to do. This rule reflects the strengths and capabilities of U.S. farmers and domestic manufacturing, and NOPA is proud to support it."
National Sorghum Producers Chair Amy France: "We appreciate President Trump, Administrator Zeldin and Secretary Rollins for delivering strong RVO volumes and doing so in a way that recognizes the importance of American farmers. These volumes provide critical certainty for sorghum producers and help strengthen demand across the biofuels sector."
Nebraska Ethanol Board Executive Director Ben Rhodes: "We welcome these strong finalized RVOs, particularly the 15 billion annual ethanol gallons. These volumes show a clear commitment to American-made renewable fuels. Robust RVOs are critical to keeping prices at the pump lower for consumers while also supporting our ethanol producers and farmers. With worldwide fuel supply chains in disruption, we thank EPA for finalizing these volumes and bringing certainty to the market."
North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue: "We appreciate the [Trump] Administration's increase in mandated renewable fuel levels. Growing domestic demand for renewable fuels is critical to the long-term success of North Dakota family farmers. As producers cope with extreme market volatility, the new Renewable Volume Obligations provide much-needed certainty."
Renewable Fuels Association President Geoff Cooper: "At a time when American consumers are looking for relief at the pump and hard-hit farmers are looking for new demand opportunities, we commend EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Donald Trump for delivering robust RFS volume requirements for 2026 and 2027. The final rule locks in the highest-ever renewable fuel volume obligations and provides clarity for farmers, ethanol producers, oil refiners, and fuel distributors alike. [This] action by EPA and the White House will boost the farm economy, strengthen American energy security, and reduce fuel prices for hardworking families. We applaud the Trump Administration for recognizing the important role renewable fuels and agriculture can play in meeting our nation's energy dominance objectives."
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): "ADM commends the Administration and the EPA for advancing an RVO that strengthens markets for American farmers and enhances America's energy security. The RVO announced increases opportunities for American farmers by driving demand for corn, soy, and other feedstocks; supports a reliable domestic fuel supply chain that offers consumers dependable choices at the pump; and provides market certainty that encourages responsible investment and innovation across the supply chain. We appreciate the Administration's commitment to reinforcing the essential role of homegrown biofuels in America's energy security while supporting farmers and the rural communities that help make these solutions possible."
Missouri Soybeans: "A big win for soybean farmers. The finalized 2026-2027 RVOs will boost biomass-based diesel blending to 5.4-5.5B gallons -over a 60% increase from 2025. More soybean oil demand. More processing. Stronger domestic markets for U.S. soy."
National Association of State Department of Agriculture (NASDA): "NASDA commends the [Trump] Administration for finalizing the Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027. These final volumes will drive critical growth in a proven domestic market for U.S. agriculture, providing much-needed certainty for U.S. farmers and biofuel producers across the country. NASDA also applauds the inclusion of policies that prioritize domestic feedstocks and encourage EPA to continue to support U.S. farmers whose contributions help lower fuel prices and increase energy independence."
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/what-they-are-saying-leaders-across-america-commend-epas-action-finalize-historic
ISIS Affiliates Threaten Religious Freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
WASHINGTON, March 30 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:* * *
ISIS Affiliates Threaten Religious Freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
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Washington, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) released the following report on the DRC:
Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in the DRC - Amid ongoing political instability and chronic insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), nonstate armed groups have increasingly targeted religious communities, exploited gaps in governance, and ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 30 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release: * * * ISIS Affiliates Threaten Religious Freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) * Washington, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) released the following report on the DRC: Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in the DRC - Amid ongoing political instability and chronic insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), nonstate armed groups have increasingly targeted religious communities, exploited gaps in governance, andlimited civilian protection, particularly in the country's eastern provinces. Among these actors, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also known as the Islamic State - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC), presents a particularly alarming threat to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). In the past two years, the ADF has intensified its operations, waging violent attacks on houses of worship, religious leaders, and communities, which are predominantly Christian. This publication provides an overview of the ADF's and other nonstate actors' escalating violations of FoRB, while also examining the DRC and international responses to the crisis.
In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF highlighted religious freedom violations and U.S. sanctions related to ISIS affiliates or in central, eastern, and southern Africa. USCIRF has also examined conditions in the central region of the continent, including in a February 2023 factsheet on Central Africa.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/isis-affiliates-threaten-religious-freedom-democratic-republic-congo
EPA Resumes Contaminated Sediment Cleanup in Detroit's Lower Rouge River Old Channel
WASHINGTON, March 30 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:* * *
EPA Resumes Contaminated Sediment Cleanup in Detroit's Lower Rouge River Old Channel
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Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resumed dredging contaminated sediment from the Lower Rouge River Old Channel in Detroit, Michigan. The dredging marks the final phase of an $84 million, multi-year project to clean up the highly industrialized federal navigation channel and improve water quality in the Rouge River Area of Concern.
Crews are resuming the effort to address more than 100,000 cubic ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 30 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA Resumes Contaminated Sediment Cleanup in Detroit's Lower Rouge River Old Channel * Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resumed dredging contaminated sediment from the Lower Rouge River Old Channel in Detroit, Michigan. The dredging marks the final phase of an $84 million, multi-year project to clean up the highly industrialized federal navigation channel and improve water quality in the Rouge River Area of Concern. Crews are resuming the effort to address more than 100,000 cubicyards of sediment contaminated with coal tar and petroleum products. Approximately 70,000 cubic yards of the contaminated sediment will be dredged and transported by barge to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed facility in Monroe, Michigan. The remaining approximate 35,000 cubic yards of sediment will be isolated by placing a cover ("cap") over them to prevent the spread of contamination.
The project is funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Honeywell Inc. through a cost-sharing agreement.
For more information on the project, please see EPA's Rouge River AOC website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-resumes-contaminated-sediment-cleanup-detroits-lower-rouge-river-old-channel
IDB Strengthens Resilience Among Small, Rural Producers in Mexico With $8 Million Investment Grant
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:* * *
IDB Strengthens Resilience Among Small, Rural Producers in Mexico with $8 Million Investment Grant
Small farmers in nine Mexican states will receive new support to improve their resilience against extreme weather with an $8 million investment grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The grant, approved by the IDB's Board of Executive Directors, will expand financing for nature-based agricultural investments that protect soils, water, and ecosystems and enhance resilience at the ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release: * * * IDB Strengthens Resilience Among Small, Rural Producers in Mexico with $8 Million Investment Grant Small farmers in nine Mexican states will receive new support to improve their resilience against extreme weather with an $8 million investment grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The grant, approved by the IDB's Board of Executive Directors, will expand financing for nature-based agricultural investments that protect soils, water, and ecosystems and enhance resilience at thefarm level, helping safeguard rural livelihoods and food security.
The IDB grant will support partial credit guarantees through Mexico's Agricultural Trust Funds (FIRA), a public financing mechanism created by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and managed by the Central Bank of Mexico. These guarantees will work by sharing financial risks among participating financial institutions, making it easier for them to finance projects that might otherwise be seen as too risky.
The project is expected to mobilize an estimated $30 million in guaranteed loans, benefiting approximately 3,000 small farmers in vulnerable regions with high poverty rates. By mitigating portfolio risk for financial intermediaries, the project is expected to incentivize sustained participation of the rural financial system in adaptation lending, leading to improved access, longer loan maturities, and better terms for smallholders.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-strengthens-resilience-among-small-rural-producers-mexico-8-million-investment-grant
First Exhibition to Explore Photography's Relationship With Resource Extraction Opening at the National Gallery of Art
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:* * *
First Exhibition to Explore Photography's Relationship with Resource Extraction Opening at the National Gallery of Art
Beneath the Surface to feature some 150 photographs by 100 artists spanning 185 years of society and industry in the United States
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The National Gallery of Art presents Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography, the first exhibition to exclusively examine the relationship between resource extraction and American photography throughout its history. Spanning nearly 200 years, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release: * * * First Exhibition to Explore Photography's Relationship with Resource Extraction Opening at the National Gallery of Art Beneath the Surface to feature some 150 photographs by 100 artists spanning 185 years of society and industry in the United States * The National Gallery of Art presents Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography, the first exhibition to exclusively examine the relationship between resource extraction and American photography throughout its history. Spanning nearly 200 years,the exhibition examines how photographers have approached the challenge of capturing the significant but often hidden processes and impacts of the extraction of minerals, coal, and fossil fuels and its associated industries.
Featuring 150 photographs by more than 100 artists, including Richard Avedon, Walker Evans, Lewis Hine, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Dorothea Lange, David Maisel, Gordon Parks, Mitch Epstein, Carleton Watkins, Will Wilson, and more, Beneath the Surface reveals how generations of photographers have utilized evolving technologies and distinctive visual strategies to document the industries that power and shape modern life. Beneath the Surface will be on view at the National Gallery of Art from May 23 to August 23, 2026, before traveling to the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas.
"As a defining visual medium of our modern age, photography is an essential tool to capture and communicate our shared history," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. "Beneath the Surface bring together a dynamic range of works to shed light on the medium's intersections with a shaping force in American history and industry."
The featured works, many of which are drawn from the National Gallery's significant photography collection, span early daguerreotypes from the time of the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s to pictures of rapid industrialization in the 20th century and contemporary photographs produced at an immense scale. This expansive selection traces the layered history of extraction and how artists have used photography as a lens through which to communicate the industry's relationship with society and the natural world.
"Photography itself is dependent on precious metals for its very existence, from the light sensitivity of silver in early processes to the copper of contemporary digital-camera batteries. At the same time, it has been the principal visual medium employed to depict extractive industries, evolving alongside the expansion of mining on an industrial scale since the 19th century," said Diane Waggoner, co-curator of the exhibition and curator of photographs at the National Gallery of Art. "Beneath the Surface unites photographs made for a variety of purposes, from explicitly promotional and commercial uses to documentation efforts and socially engaged activism, shedding light on both the rewards and costs of resource extraction."
The exhibition orients visitors with an introductory gallery displaying contemporary work, foregrounding themes relevant to the current moment and providing a critical framework for understanding the six broad, chronological sections that follow. Viewers will encounter works not only by historical photographers recognized for their work in capturing mining, drilling, and industrial subjects, such as Carleton Watkins, Margaret Bourke-White, Marion Post Wolcott, and Bernd and Hilla Becher, but also by less expected practitioners Florence Kemmler, Alma Lavenson, and Mary Morris. The exhibition includes works by contemporary photographers Edward Burtynsky, Binh Danh, Terry Evans, Victoria Sambunaris, and Cara Romero, among others.
"For almost two centuries photographers have played a central role in public understanding of resource extraction, drawing on a succession of technologies and strategies to capture activities that enable modern life but resist portrayal," said Kristen Gaylord, co-curator of the exhibition and Herzfeld Curator of Photography and Media Arts at Milwaukee Art Museum. "This exhibition demonstrates how, time and again, photographers have creatively pushed against the medium's boundaries in a quest to impart the enormity of the country's extractive activities and their effects."
Beneath the Surface centers on the challenges artists face in capturing the colossal scale of extraction and its far-reaching impacts on communities and the environment. It also reveals the inventive strategies they have employed to depict this subject. The works on view reflect the full breadth of the medium, spanning landscapes, portraits of workers and panoramas of affected communities, photobooks, aerial imagery, analog and digital collage, camera-less photography, historical processes, narrative and performance work, and pictures that otherwise harness photography to communicate the scope of these industries.
Exhibition Tour
National Gallery of Art, Washington, May 23-August 23, 2026
Milwaukee Art Museum, October 23, 2026-January 18, 2027
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, February 14-May 9, 2027
Exhibition Organization and Support
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art in collaboration with the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
Major support for the exhibition has been provided by the Center for Contemporary Documentation.
The exhibition is also made possible through the leadership support of the Trellis Charitable Fund.
Additional support for this exhibition was provided by Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman and the Edwin L. Cox Exhibition Fund.
Exhibition Curators
This exhibition is curated by Diane Waggoner, acting head and curator of photographs, National Gallery of Art, and Kristen Gaylord, Herzfeld Curator of Photography and Media Arts, Milwaukee Art Museum.
In the Library: Photobooks and American Energy
In conjunction with Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography, the National Gallery of Art Library presents an installation of 25 books and 2 zines examining how photographers use photobooks to document the impact of energy extraction, production, and circulation on the American landscape and its communities.
The books and zines on view illustrate complex narratives about how America is powered today, revealing the visual strategies and design decisions contemporary photographers use to contextualize and share their work. In the library reading room adjacent to the exhibition area, additional photobooks are available for visitors to browse.
Curated by Yuri Long, special collections librarian at the National Gallery, this installation is on view from May 25 through August 21, 2026, in the East Building Library Atrium from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online--making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography
National Gallery of Art, Washington, May 23-August 23, 2026
Milwaukee Art Museum, October 23, 2026-January 17, 2027
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, February 14-May 9, 2027
Dependent on precious metals from its inception, photography has always been intertwined with the natural resources that are fundamental to modern industrialized life. Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography is the first exhibition to exclusively examine how photographers from the mid-19th century to today have powerfully captured the effects of resource extraction on the land and communities of the United States. Featuring some 150 photographs that span 185 years, this exhibition focuses especially on the subterranean removal of the minerals and fossil fuels that power this country's economy and industry. Together, these works demonstrate how photographers have drawn on changing technology and unique visual strategies to rise to the challenge of picturing these colossal industries.
Made for a variety of purposes, ranging from commercial boosterism and celebration of technical advancement to social documentation and community activism, the pictures in the exhibition shed light on how photography has revealed the costs of extraction and who benefits from its success. Divided into six broad, chronological sections that contextualize the complex history of photography and extraction, from daguerreotypes of the Gold Rush to large-scale, immersive photographs made in the last decade, Beneath the Surface highlights how artists have used photography to explore the relationship between extraction, society, and the environment.
This exhibition is curated by Diane Waggoner, curator of photographs, National Gallery of Art, and Kristen Gaylord, Herzfeld Curator of Photography and Media Arts, Milwaukee Art Museum.
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, in collaboration with the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
Major support for the exhibition has been provided by the Center for Contemporary Documentation.
The exhibition is also made possible through the leadership support of the Trellis Charitable Fund.
Additional support for this exhibition was provided by Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/first-exhibition-explore-photographys-relationship-resource-extraction-opening-national-gallery-art
Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:* * *
Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
Exhibition presents works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Thomas Moran, Gordon Parks, Paul Revere, Carrie Mae Weems, and more as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration
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As part of its yearlong commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the National Gallery of Art presents Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience, an exhibition ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release: * * * Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience Exhibition presents works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Thomas Moran, Gordon Parks, Paul Revere, Carrie Mae Weems, and more as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration * As part of its yearlong commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the National Gallery of Art presents Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience, an exhibitionexamining how artists have portrayed and interpreted key aspects of American culture over the last 250 years. Comprising approximately 115 works from the late 18th century to the present--including many recent acquisitions and works that have never been on view at the National Gallery before--the exhibition highlights artists' wide-ranging depictions of American experience across time and place and is framed by the themes of land, community, and freedom. Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience will be on view in the West Building from April 11 to September 20, 2026.
Drawn primarily from the National Gallery's leading collection of American art, Dear America brings together works on paper by more than 95 artists. Among the objects on view are photographs by Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Margaret Bourke-White, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk Nation), Sally Mann, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Gordon Parks, Alfred Stieglitz, James Van Der Zee, Carleton E. Watkins, and Carrie Mae Weems; drawings by Thomas Moran, Tonita Pena, Eunice Pinney, and John Wilson; artists' books by Dindga McCannon and Kara Walker; and prints by Emma Amos, Ruth Asawa, Charles Gaines, Jane Hammond, Roy Lichtenstein, Marisol, Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Fritz Scholder, and Juan Sanchez.
"Artists have long helped us see America not just as a place, but as a living idea shaped by many voices," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. "Through these remarkable works from the National Gallery's collection, visitors to the nation's art museum can witness the power of art to illuminate our shared past, illustrate the experiences of our lives, and inspire our collective future."
"Showcasing exemplary prints, drawings, and photographs made in the last 250 years, this exhibition is a testament to collaboration across curatorial disciplines as well as the strength of our permanent collection," said E. Carmen Ramos, the National Gallery's chief curatorial and conservation officer. "Dear America reveals the wide range of subjects, approaches, and techniques through which America's artists have sought to interpret their own and others' experiences."
About the Exhibition
Comprising works that span the breadth of US history and geography, from the nation's founding through the present, Dear America seeks to explore how artists have considered the question of what is, has been, and could be the nature of the American experience. The exhibition is organized in three thematic sections: Land, Community, and Freedom, each highlighting artists' expansive interpretations of American culture and iconography.
The first section, Land, explores our collective understanding of America as a place and as a site of wonder and belonging, survival and memory. Works from the 19th century by Thomas Moran, Frances Flora Bond Palmer, William H. Rau, and Carleton E. Watkins capture the variety of natural geographies across the North American continent and the early stages of the expansion of railways and settlements from east to west. Examples by 20th- and 21st-century artists, such as Bernarda Bryson, Leo Limon, Richard Misrach, and Margaret Bourke-White, address the impact of the growing populace, human-built environments, and major cities that comprise America today. This section shows how artists have drawn inspiration from the grandeur of the country's mountain ranges and canyons, as well as from roadside gas stations, hydroelectric dams, and skyscrapers.
The second section, Community, begins with four large multipart works that fill an entire gallery. Dear America (2002), composed of 16 photographs by contemporary artist Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk Nation), was the inspiration for the title of the exhibition. In this suite, Jones combined scans of historical postcards with lyrics from the song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" to incorporate Native American experiences into narratives of American history. Also featured is a set of life-size figure drawings for John Wilson's unrealized mural Young Americans (1973-1975). These drawings depict the artist's teenage children and their friends, who hung out at the Wilson home in the 1970s. Their youthful potential represented a hopeful vision of the future to the artist. Nearby is a group of some 30 portraits from a suite of 101 offset lithographs by Sedrick E. Huckaby that are based on sketches he created while he interviewed people living and working in his community. The largest multipart work in this section is Richard Avedon's The Family (1976), a series of 69 photographs. Made during the Bicentennial, they depict America's power elite--politicians, media moguls, financiers, and activists. These works and others by artists such as Charles Milton Bell, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Michael Jang, Cesar A. Martinez, and Cara Romero highlight artists' portrayals of the many types of communities that have shaped the American experience, from politicians and prominent public servants, to friends and family members, neighborhoods, and religious and cultural gatherings.
The exhibition concludes with the section Freedom, weaving histories of revolution and liberation with deeply personal snapshots of American life. The works included here serve as both witnesses to the moments they portray and catalysts to connect us to our own sense of freedom. This section explores artists' considerations of the freedoms envisioned by the founders of the United States as well as by later generations who have continually sought to protect fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and promote greater freedom for all people. Featured are scenes from the American Revolution and Civil War, including Paul Revere's famous print depicting the Boston Massacre of 1770, an event that was prompted by escalating tensions between the American colonists and Great Britain. Also on view are historical portraits of figures like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and George Washington, all of whom advocated for freedom, while portraits of soldiers by artists such as Maya Freelon and James Van Der Zee remind us of the cost of defending that freedom. Other photographs by Lewis Wickes Hine and Alfred Stieglitz capture the early 20th-century mass movement of people who were fleeing oppression and seeking new opportunities. And Faith Ringgold's screenprints of events from the civil rights movement that accompany Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "Letter from Birmingham City Jail" and Robert Indiana's boldly colored screenprint Liberty '76 (1974-1975), made for the occasion of the country's 200th anniversary, document and celebrate the continual pursuit of freedom that is fundamental to our democracy.
Exhibition Organization and Support
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
The exhibition is made possible through support from Daniel W. Hamilton and the Edwin L. Cox Exhibition Fund.
Exhibition Curators
The exhibition is curated by Angelica Becerra, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow; Sarah Greenough, senior curator and head of the department of photographs (retired); Rena Hoisington, curator and head of Old Master prints; and Shelley Langdale, curator and head of modern prints and drawings, all at the National Gallery of Art.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online--making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/dear-america-draws-national-gallery-arts-collection-highlight-artists-interpretations-american