For Immediate Release, October 27, 2011
Contact: Allison Sturma, 202-429-4725

October 27, 2011 – The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) issued the following statement upon learning of the death of former U.S. Rep. Howard Wolpe of Michigan:

The U.S. Institute of Peace mourns the passing of former Congressman Howard Wolpe. He was a close associate of USIP, working together to promote peace in Nigeria, Sudan, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most recently, USIP published Wolpe’s reflections on the Burundi peace process in a monograph titled Making Peace After Genocide: Anatomy of the Burundi Process. Following his chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Sub-Committee, Wolpe was special envoy to the Great Lakes of Africa for both Presidents Clinton and Obama.

David Smock, senior vice president of USIP’s Centers of Innovation, who had known Rep. Wolpe since 1966, reflected, “As a scholar, politician, and diplomat Howard never wavered from his commitment to promoting peace and prosperity in Africa.”

Rep. Wolpe served in the U.S. House of Represenatives from 1979 to 1993.