Senate Foreign Relations Committee- African Affairs

6/4/15

It was noted that there are 3.5 million displaced people in Sudan and South Sudan in the opening remarks of the hearing. Countries that provide a safe haven for terror organizations such as Boko Haram, Al Shabab and Al Quaeda discourage investment in foreign communities. Two new security programs were said to include the Security Governance Initiative and the Rapid Response Program. It was said that U. S. sector security will be implemented to combat terrorism and allow African states to secure their governments. This is to be done through better law enforcement and judicial reform as well as attention to peacekeepers in conflict.

It was said that three requirements must be met in order to effectively improve the stability of this region. First, initiatives must represent the best U.S. ideals, especially freedom, and adhere to the highest U.S. standards. Secondly, priority should be placed on mitigating threats against U.S. security and that of its citizens abroad. Thirdly, initiatives must serve to promote African regional security needs.

A witness asserted that both economic development and security ought to be priorities with emphasis on long-term results and implications. In 2014, $496 million was allocated to sub-Saharan Africa for peacekeeping and counter-terror, specifically in areas of crisis prevention and response. The witness emphasized that peacekeeping leads to the greater stability of a region. African police and peacekeepers need to be supported through enhanced rapid response capabilities. There also needs to be a strategic and comprehensive means of addressing shared security threats. Terror organizations must not be allowed the opportunity to recruit new members or compile resources.

Drugs, trafficking and maritime crime were also said to be concerns. Governments that respect human rights were said to improve the rule of law in their respective countries and shut down rhetoric that encourages alternative justice systems. It was noted that terror threatens regional and global order which necessitates strong government institutions to combat terror, through four primary initiatives. First, peace-keeping operations ought to be strengthened. Second, military capabilities ought to be developed. Third, the militaries in Africa should be professionalized. And fourth, African partners should police the maritime domain.

The current process for considering potential Joint Regional Strategies was said to be as follows: embassies propose integrated strategies; the DoD subsequently makes recommendations on these, and finally, round tables meet to set priorities, define goals and decide about budget requests. It was said that $9 million should be allocated to purchase equipment and spare parts for African militaries with an additional allocation of $2.4 million to aid African militaries to understand the U.S. and U.S. values. The breakdown of funding sources for Sector Security Assistance was said to be 30% from the DoD and 70% from the State Department. The goal of the African Military Education Program was said to be long term partnerships with capable African militaries. It was noted that the DoD relies heavily on the State Department for long term sustainment of desired policy goals.

Addressing security was said to highest priority of the new Nigerian president. It was said that he has already appointed a person from the multi-national task force to assist in this. When questioned about the trajectory for piracy and lawlessness in the Horn of Africa region, the witness noted that no successful boarding of a commercial vessel has been achieved by pirates in the last two years. It was noted that piracy and terror undercuts revenues in respective countries. In the Gulf of Guinea, where piracy has been an issue recently, similar measures were called for. In Nigeria, efforts to combat Boko Haram have had limited results and a more proactive approach was called for. War crimes have been perpetrated by the Nigerian military against Nigerian citizens under the guise of fighting Boko Haram. Sexual exploitation has also been committed by peace-keeping troops. It was said that efforts must be taken to ensure that African governments take accountability of their militaries so that troops do not exploit and then lose the confidence the people they are responsible to protect.

Several issues were addressed at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on African Affairs. Counter-terrorism initiatives to combat the activities of Al-Shabab, Al Quaeda, Boko Haram was identified as a priority in going forward to nullify their influence on the region. Troubled regions such of the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Guinea and, more broadly, sub-Saharan Africa are to be given special consideration. Drugs, trafficking and maritime crime are to be stopped and abuses by African militaries and peace-keeping troops are to be addressed. Training for African troops to be familiarized with U.S. ideals and professional standards. Ultimately, African nations are anticipated to take more comprehensive accountability of the region.

–Stephen Shaw (6/4/15)