▶ 0:21:31Chair Risch: Good afternoon, thank you for joining us today. Today's hearing focuses on the rising terrorism threats in africa and the acute risk this poses to U.S. national security. For decades, when americans thought about terrorism they thought first about the middle east. And for good reason. Iran is still the world's top state sponsor of terrorism and they have built a global network of terrorist proxies.
▶ 0:22:03Chair Risch: The extremism and violence they generate has created a symbiotic relationship with sunni terrorist groups including al qaeda. Today, the center of gravity for global terrorism has shifted to africa.
▶ 0:22:19Chair Risch: It has shifted partly and in fact precisely because of the export of violent islamic terrorism from the middle east as well as because of incredibly complicated and specific local dynamics. Across the set held in west africa and east africa, terrorist groups are expanding, embedding and operating with increasing capability.
▶ 0:22:47Chair Risch: Isis affiliates and al qaeda linked groups are growing, controlling territory and exploiting weak governance. In highmali -- in mali, burkina faso have all expanded. In nigeria, boko haram, isis west africa and extremists are mass slaughtering christians.
▶ 0:23:17Chair Risch: In somalia, al-shabaab targets americans and threatens U.S. personnel and partners in east africa all while receiving support from the iran backed houthis in yemen buried in mozambique and islamic state aligned insurgency has showed localized military rains can jeopardize major international energy investments and broader regional stability.
▶ 0:23:43Chair Risch: In region after region, terrorist groups are outpacing the ability of local governments to respond. The failures threaten our interest globally and in danger the american homeland. The threat is rapidly growing and demands attention. For too long however, africa was treated as a theater where we did not have interests.
▶ 0:24:09Chair Risch: Presidential administrations either ignored it or used it as a playground for self-indulgent ideological experiments. The latter problem was particularly acute in the previous administration. That mismatch allowed terrorist groups to expand and global adversaries in particular russia, china and iran to intervene and undermine american influences. Those dynamics now threaten U.S.
▶ 0:24:39Chair Risch: Interests, our allies and ultimately the american homeland. The challenge for the united states is not simply how to disrupt immediate threats but how to do so in a way that is sustainable, accountable and aligned with broader U.S. interests. This hearing is about confronting that reality and asking what the united states is going to do about it. I look forward to hearing from today's witnesses Mr.
▶ 0:25:06Chair Risch: Nick checker, a senior official of the bureau of africa affairs and miss monica jacobsen, senior official for the bureau of counterterrorism, as they both testify on the issue. I recognize ranking member booker for his remarks.
▶ 0:25:24Sen. Booker: What we are discussing today is not far away, it is not disconnected from american life, it is not some side issue we can afford to regulate to the margins of our senatorial and administrative focus. Africa is not the periphery to the national security of the united states and the urgencies we face. Earlier this year the U.S.
▶ 0:25:48Sen. Booker: Intelligence committee assessed africa has become "a focal point for the global jihadist movement ." that is not a passing warning, that is a flashing red light. Across the continent, terrorist organizations have become adaptive, more networked and more entrenched in local conflicts. In the horn, al-shabaab remains a deadly force who is killed civilians, killed americans, threatened U.S.
▶ 0:26:17Sen. Booker: Interests and plotted a 9/11 style attack against the united states and now is collaborating with aqap and iran backed houthis in yemen. Isis somalia is a more significant note in the broader isis network with devastating intent and capability to threaten beyond the region including to the united states.
▶ 0:26:43Sen. Booker: Terrorist groups linked to isis and al qaeda are driving some of the highest levels of violence in all over the world. In the lake chad basin, is west africa and boko haram continue exploit orders that are weak, and communities that have failed -- been failed by their governments for far too long.
▶ 0:27:10Sen. Booker: In mozambique and the democratic republic of congo, insurgencies are deepening humanitarian suffering, threatening stability and putting civilian lives and economic progress at risk. In mozambique this includes a tech -- an attack that halted the U.S. finance national gas project.
▶ 0:27:29Sen. Booker: Counterterrorism in africa is not charity or a distraction, it is not optional for our country it is a core american national security interest. This administration sees africa as a whole as a periphery than it is treating a central national security challenge as an afterthought and that is dangerous.
▶ 0:27:54Sen. Booker: Because these groups do not emerge out of nowhere, they feed on corruption, unbroken governance, they feed on despair, on the absence of state legitimacy. The pain of exclusion and the vulnerability of young people who see too few pathways to dignity, work and hope.
▶ 0:28:21Sen. Booker: And that means ultimately you cannot bomb your way to lasting peace. U.S. military strikes can matter , they can disrupt plots, degrade networks, they can eliminate immediate threats, but military strikes alone cannot build trust in government, military strikes cannot create livelihoods. Military strikes alone cannot root out corruption.
▶ 0:28:48Sen. Booker: Military strikes alone cannot strengthen courts and communities and local institutions. Military strikes alone cannot prevent extremist groups from returning the moment attention shifts and the dust settles. What this takes is a strategy, patients, partnerships, diplomacy, development and security working together. But that is not what this administration is doing.
▶ 0:29:18Sen. Booker: Instead what we are seeing is a retreat dressed up as a resolve. We see leadership vacancies all over the continent. We see diplomatic -- diminished diplomatic presence all over the continent. We see the weakening or elimination of bipartisan prevention, stabilization, security and development tools that this congress under democratic and republican presidents put into place.
▶ 0:29:47Sen. Booker: We see talk of burden sharing while the united states steps back from the very partnerships that make burden sharing possible. At the very moment extremist threats are growing more complex , america is reducing the architecture needed to respond with coherence and credibility. And when america's absent, instability grows.
▶ 0:30:15Sen. Booker: Extremism spreads and our adversaries advertise themselves as the future. China and russia are not waiting on the sidelines. China is deepening its range, expanding infrastructure financing. Widening security engagement and positioning itself as the partner that shows up when the united states pulls back.
▶ 0:30:40Sen. Booker: Russia is pitching its africa cores as essential for security and our inconsistency makes china and russia's pitch all the more powerful. So when communities and countries across africa are looking for help to resist extremism, to build opportunity and stabilize fragile regions and the united states offers inconsistency, absence, indifference.
▶ 0:31:09Sen. Booker: We should not be surprised when they turn to the actor promising roads, ports, investment, training and partnerships. That is the vacuum we are creating. African nations have agency. They will choose their own path, but our retreat narrows american voices. Weakens our credibility and limits our ability to be the partner of choice. This is bigger than one hearing we are having.
▶ 0:31:40Sen. Booker: We should be doing so much more. This is bigger than a budget line item. This is bigger than one region. A continent that is vital to our security, our economy and the world and our standing in it, the continent is that by 2050 will have one out of every four human beings on the planet and one out of every three working people, cannot be treated as an afterthought without
▶ 0:32:10Sen. Booker: Consequence. The trump administration is not delivering a whole of government strategy. It is delivering a whack a mole policy dressed up as counterterrorism. It is fragmented, reactive, it is too often militarized and under strategized. I remember sitting in the committee where general mattis said if you cut vital programs to the state department, get me more bullets.
▶ 0:32:39Sen. Booker: But military responses alone are not the whole of government strategies we need. If we continue down this path, we will keep striking at symptoms well the deeper sickness spreads. America, we need a reset. We need to restore conflict prevention and stabilization efforts that address the conditions extremist exploit. We need to strengthen our diplomatic presence and our development capacity on the ground.
▶ 0:33:09Sen. Booker: We need to deepen partnerships with african nations and regional institutions, not abandon the field and then pretend influence can be maintained from a distance or from bombs from the air. We need military tools but they need to be part of a broader strategy. Not a substitute for one.
▶ 0:33:32Sen. Booker: And we need actual long-term counterterrorism strategies for africa that is serious, coordinated and worthy of a high-stakes performance because the future of american security is bound up with the future of the stability, prosperity and partnerships we have on the african continent.
▶ 0:33:53Sen. Booker: We need a strategy that reflects the true conditions on the ground and not only frames africa as a problem, it actually sees the real framing, that it is an extraordinary asset, an extraordinary continent filled with extraordinary people that america should be having a much bolder engagement with. Thank you Mr. chair.
▶ 0:34:16Sen. Cruz: Thank you senator booker. I would like to introduce our witnesses for the day. Our first witnesses Mr. nick checker, senior official of the african affairs bureau. Our second witness is miss monica jacobsen. Senior bureau official of the counter to some -- counterterrorism bureau.
▶ 0:34:35Sen. Cruz: -- Mr. checker: good afternoon chairman cruz, ranking member booker and distinguished members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the trumpet administration counterterrorism policy in africa. Africa played an important role in america's economic future. The continent holds vast critical minerals, energy resources and tremendous human capital.
▶ 0:35:01Sen. Cruz: These opportunities cannot be fully realized under the persistent instability and parts of the continent including terrorist threats which continue to affect U.S. interests. Currently U.S. policy toward the continent is undergoing a necessary reset that past approaches fail to deliver outcomes for american interests or for partnering african countries. Under president trump and the secretary's leadership the administration has responded with clarity.
▶ 0:35:28Sen. Cruz: We will pursue a disciplined intrusive driven strategy rooted in flexible realism. This calls for partnership codependency. No longer will be open ended commitments with few objectives that -- in line for decades U.S. engagement was defined by aid centric models but too often -- rather than self-sufficiency.
▶ 0:35:53Sen. Cruz: Going forward we will prioritize enabling and cooperating with african nations and demonstrating commitment and capacity to take the lead, addressing security gaps while advancing core U.S. national interests. We will no longer make open ended investments in nations that are unable or unwilling to sustain the ct efforts. But we are not naïve. Burden sharing and shifting must extend beyond the continent.
▶ 0:36:18Sen. Cruz: We are working closely with european allies, partners in the middle east and other like-minded nations to ensure a more coordinated response to the challenge. These partners have stepped up benefiting from long-standing ties to geographic proximity and complementing capabilities that are essential for success. Our goal is to reinforce their leadership, not substitute for it. And create greater regional support. Can either be feasible nor effective.
▶ 0:36:47Sen. Cruz: First, our counterterrorism posture in africa is focused and aligned with national security priorities. The primary objective is clear. We will protect the homeland from threats while safeguarding U.S. citizens and commercial interests abroad. Groups aligned with isis and al qaeda in nigeria and parts of east africa, of these threats are real but the response must be disciplined. We will not pursue large or definite military engagements and nationbuilding efforts.
▶ 0:37:16Sen. Cruz: Instead we are adopting a targeted approach that emphasizes intelligence sharing and limited high-impact security cooperation with partners that demonstrate capability and political will. Second, our strategy recognizes counterterrorism cannot be separated from the broader political and economic dynamics. Instability creates space for terrorist networks to operate but the response is not simply security assistance.
▶ 0:37:43Sen. Cruz: A region that accounted for five to 10% of terrorism related deaths a decade ago now represents more than 50%. Despite significant american engagement, the strategic picture demonstrates open-ended aid centric approaches have not worked. This is why a fundamental change is necessary. Our cultural dynamics and must be accounted for to address the underlying conditions for the conflict.
▶ 0:38:08Sen. Cruz: With governance, a lack of economic opportunity and unresolved regional disputes, challenges -- third, three focus on foreign assistance to ensure every dollar advances U.S. interests and delivers better outcomes. Prioritizing programs with clear objectives and defined timelines. These changes mean making difficult choices focusing resources where they can do the greatest impact in the programs that do not.
▶ 0:38:37Sen. Cruz: In the counterterrorism context, successfully reevaluating and unfettered access to financial and criminal networks, and better protection of U.S. interests. Finally, our approach is grounded in respect for sovereignty and realism about political conditions on the ground. We engage governments as they are coming out as we wish them to be.
▶ 0:39:00Sen. Cruz: It does not mean abandoning our values but pursuing them through pragmatic diplomacy rather than public pressure that can undermine cooperation. We will work with countries who want to have -- if doing so advances U.S. interests and protects the homeland. Effective counterterrorism partnerships require trust and trust is built through consistent interest based engagement.
▶ 0:39:23Sen. Cruz: This principle for my recent travel to reengage partners in advance efforts to bring home american dutch in closing we are prioritizing partnerships that matter, aligning our resources with our strategic objectives ensuring our engagement delivers real benefits for the american people and results of our african partner. Thank you and I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:39:43Sen. Cruz: Thank you. Miss jacobson you are recognized for your opening statement.
▶ 0:39:48Ms. Jacobsen: Thank you. Thank you chairman cruz, ranking member booker and stingless members of the subcommittee. I appreciate the opportunity to testify today on the administration's counterterrorism policy in africa alongside my colleague from the bureau of african affairs. The trump administration remains vigilant against potential terrorist threats to the homeland emanating from africa.
▶ 0:40:15Ms. Jacobsen: Our priority is to identify and disrupt these plots targeting the united states and its citizens before they materialize. As president trump stated in his inaugural address, our top priority is to defend our nation and protect our citizens and that principle guides the department's counterterrorism approach in africa.
▶ 0:40:35Ms. Jacobsen: In response to the presence of isis and al qaeda in parts of the continent and to remain vigilant against any attacks on the homeland, the united states is pursuing a targeted disciplined strategy that avoids open ended commitments. This approach is guided by three core principles. First, the bureau of counterterrorism focuses on identifying and neutralizing terrorist threats before they reach the united states.
▶ 0:41:02Ms. Jacobsen: We leverage a full range of counterterrorism tools including visa restrictions, designations, information sharing and where appropriate, targeted security assistance. The ct bureau works with interagency partners such as the transportation security administration, customs and border protection to strengthen border security and prevent terrorist travel including through aviation security programs in nigeria, senegal and kenya.
▶ 0:41:29Ms. Jacobsen: In coordination with the department of the treasury we also disrupt terrorist financing and constrain the resources that support terrorist operations and external plotting. At the same time we maintain active diplomatic engagement across africa to sustain the partnerships we need to safeguard U.S. national security interests. Among other benefits these relationships allow us to deploy our personal identification secure comparison and evaluation systems.
▶ 0:41:59Ms. Jacobsen: Across 15 countries in africa. Pisces extends U.S. borders by enhancing countries border security capabilities and allowing them to share data with the united states and other international partners. Second, we work with partners in the region to take responsibility for their own security. We enable partners, we do not replace them.
▶ 0:42:22Ms. Jacobsen: Moroccan forces previously trained by the bureau counterterrorism now train forces across sub-saharan africa using U.S. provided curricula. This is precisely the model we seek to expand with regional partners leading and sustaining regional security efforts. Finally, where clear partnership opportunities exist we deploy counterterrorism capabilities to help secure supply chains for critical resources that underpin U.S. economic prosperity and national security.
▶ 0:42:54Ms. Jacobsen: In mozambique the united states export import bank approved a $5 million loan for liquefied natural gas project in cabo delgado province which is also home to the world's only graphite mine whose entire offtake is processed in the united states. The strategic assets face persistent threats from isis mozambique which threatens billions in U.S. investment.
▶ 0:43:19Ms. Jacobsen: In response, my team working with the bureau of african affairs and other security assistance bureaus at the state department traveled to mozambique earlier this year to plan in advance potential targeted ct assistance. These will help the governments of mozambique counter the isis threat while safeguarding investments vital to the U.S. economic and national security choices.
▶ 0:43:41Ms. Jacobsen: We also recognize in many parts of africa radical islamic cleric target civilians based on the christian faith. As president trump and secretary rubio have made clear, we will respond to atrocities and violence against christians including those who knowingly direct, authorize fund support or carry out violations of religious liberty.
▶ 0:44:02Ms. Jacobsen: Our counterterrorism efforts have included directly targeting the terrorist response to this violence and we likewise hold governments and feet to the fire when they fail to address terrorist threats that undermine religious freedom. We also remain vigilant to threats against U.S. citizens in africa and we use every tool available to secure the release of U.S. hostages and bring their captors to justice. Taken together, this approach reflects a disciplined consistent strategy.
▶ 0:44:30Ms. Jacobsen: We prioritize threats with a direct nexus to the homeland, shift responsibility where possible to capable partners and advance commercial diplomacy that supports U.S. national security. I look forward to discussing these efforts in working with the subcommittee to ensure the U.S. counterterrorism strategy in africa remains focused, effective and aligned with our national security priorities. Thank you and I welcome your questions.
▶ 0:44:53Sen. Cruz: Thank you both for your testimony. Let's start off with a question addressed to you both. One of the reasons for these hearings is to ensure that the administration officials have the opportunity and platform to articulate president trump's approach in africa. For too long, U.S. policy is treated africa as a secondary theater. Biden administration withdrew U.S. forces from a key foothold in the region that is the epicenter of global terrorism.
▶ 0:45:25Sen. Cruz: That assumption is no longer tenable for a range of reasons. The president has established that is not, he personally met with 13 african heads of state's first year in office, but too often there is nonetheless a lazy assumption that the U.S. is disengaging from africa. One of the reasons africa is a critical theater is of course counterterrorism.
▶ 0:45:52Sen. Cruz: In 2024 alone that are of the 19,000 fatalities linked to military islamist violence in africa. With over 50% of the fatalities. Let's start at a high level. In your judgment what are the risks to the united states if we do not keep our eyes on the ball, if we do not focus on counterterrorism in africa?
▶ 0:46:16Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question. I think at the moment as you outlined in your statement we have seen an expansion of isis and al qaeda linked groups accounted for 90% of all militant islamic groups. The basin and somalia is one. While these groups increasingly act we do believe there is a localized threat at the moment.
▶ 0:46:43Mr. Checker: It's an insurgency expanding a number of fatalities, and that's why I think the way the administration is engaging on the continent is pragmatically begged reaching out to these states. Reaching out to mali and burkina faso is key to those partnerships to keep a pulse on that threat.
▶ 0:47:08Mr. Checker: As you noted senator the previous administration the closure of our base in large part because we failed to deal with these governments pragmatically. I think this Mr. schmitt a concerted effort to reengage those states where the islamic jihadist threat is most prominent to make sure we do have the intelligence to monitor these threats and make sure that they're having aspiration to protect the homeland.
▶ 0:47:37Ms. Jacobsen: Thank you for the question. We absolutely share your concern about the terrorist threats in the region and we are working aggressively to ensure there is no threat to the U.S. homeland while also working to avoid becoming embroiled in localized threats. Our strategy in that requires us to disrupt terrorist networks before they can threaten the homeland or harm american people. I will say we are bringing a lot of ct tools to the fight.
▶ 0:48:08Ms. Jacobsen: I mention some in my opening statement but we have border security programs, 15 border security programs we have in place across africa. More than any other region. We have watch listing efforts, we have tailored security assistance and information sharing and I should say we are bringing in the counterterrorism bureau, specifically $151 million to ensure -- to support our partners as they take responsibility for their own
▶ 0:48:38Ms. Jacobsen: Security while also protecting american interests.
▶ 0:48:39Sen. Cruz: Thank you. Mr. checker this question is for you. More christians are killed for their faith in nigeria than anywhere else in the world. Since 2009, islamic jihadists of murdered more than 50,000 christians in nigeria. And more than 20,000 churches, schools, religious institutions have been destroyed.
▶ 0:49:04Sen. Cruz: Scores of christians and several others were kidnapped over holy week. Nigerian officials have been unfortunately complicit in facilitating these atrocities. At the state level, a dozen nigerian states implement islamist bat -- blasphemy and sharia law. If the federal level they look at the other way it islamist violence.
▶ 0:49:31Sen. Cruz: Last year I introduced the nigeria religious freedom accountability act which required placing nigeria back on the country of particular concern list and impose sanctions on officials involved in enforcing blasphemy and sharia laws. The U.S. government knows who they are both at the local and federal level and they should be held accountable. I'm sorry to say that nigerian officials are at minimum in denial of the government's role.
▶ 0:49:59Sen. Cruz: In october, several officials including the deputy speaker of the nigerian house and the chairman of the house committee of foreign affairs and a range of anonymous officials linked to the president directly attacked me for saying that "officials in nigeria or ignoring or even facilitating the mass murder of christians by islamic jihadists .". Last year I met with security officials. They said they were committed to ending the violence. I told them I would judge their commitment by the results.
▶ 0:50:30Sen. Cruz: Those results have yet to materialize. President trump has established the united states will use all tools of statecraft to counter the violence. He ordered that nigeria be added to the cpc list and in december he ordered the department of war to target isis terrorists in response to their massacre of christians. I will note the nigerian government set at the time that it welcomed and indeed requested the actions.
▶ 0:50:56Sen. Cruz: I find their statements to be somewhere between hypocritical and infuriating. In december the president said jihadists have been targeting christians in nigeria "at levels not seen for many years and even centuries." what does the situation look like now several months later and what can and should the united states do to stop the mass murder of christians?
▶ 0:51:19Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question senator and thank you for your leadership on this important issue. As you know, a president from designated nigeria as a country of particular concern on october 31 and agreed more needs to be done to hold those responsible. You can look at the systematic killing we saw on palm sunday the beginning of holy week to a to the fact people are being targeted for their faith.
▶ 0:51:47Mr. Checker: I would note however that the government of nigeria has been broadly responsive to that once the designation winded to play spread we've seen positive movements to include leadership changes in nigerian security services, security deployments including additional troops and deployment of force cards. We seen a lot of this as well as increased prosecution for folks accused of terrorism as well.
▶ 0:52:15Mr. Checker: So the united states does well with the response. We saw a high level delegation led by national security advisor to form a high-level working group. Under secretary of state hooker went to nigeria and we were building out what needs to be done. In addition to that state led initiative of pushing from action where we have intimated dod supporting additional support -- forces.
▶ 0:52:48Mr. Checker: So the bottom line senator is we have seen positive from the nigerians but more can be done and we will continue to hold their feet to the fire.
▶ 0:52:57Sen. Booker: Cannot just suggest -- can I suggest the order of senator hagerty and then saturday tunes. -- senator coons.
▶ 0:53:11Sen. Hagerty: Thank you. Thanks to both of you for being here today. It is so good to see you again nick. We miss you on staff but we are so proud of you. I would like to talk.
▶ 0:53:24Sen. Cruz: He did tell me he missed the daily beatings. [laughter]
▶ 0:53:30Sen. Hagerty: He was the one doing the beatings. It's great to see you again and you are the utmost professional on my team and I know you are in your current role. I would like to talk about the administration approach in africa. Thinking about the vital national security interest and economic security interest we have, I am very glad to see you and I think very effectively as the interim leader of the state department's bureau of african affairs. Terrorism is one of several enduring threats.
▶ 0:54:02Sen. Hagerty: Counterterrorism is very important for our nation's broader strategy. If you could, tell us more about how the broader security you are pursuing serves this?
▶ 0:54:14Mr. Checker: Very good to see you again to senator. I think broadly what we are trying to do in africa is resetting a relationship, to treat africa as a capable commercial partners and what we are most focused on. Back when I worked in your office you often said it's time to get back to basics when it comes to africa and that certainly what we are trying to do.
▶ 0:54:39Mr. Checker: Since 1991 we sent 200 billion dollars of assistance to africa which is not deliver the structural translation -- transformation. We see narrowed export bases, persistent infrastructure gaps. This model was fundamentally not working for us. We were also doing capacity building for the sake without saying targeted results.
▶ 0:55:03Mr. Checker: The core interest here is taking advantage of the economic opportunity presented by the continent that's borne out by one in four people will be from africa by 2050 which is about a $16 trillion market for U.S. investments. It is a lot of untapped economic opportunity on the continent. Particularly the critical mineral space. The administration is focused on shoring are supply lines.
▶ 0:55:28Mr. Checker: The chinese are very much monopolized the mining and refining of a lot of these minerals. So it is very much in our national economic interest to dislodge the chinese there. So I think economically a lot of opportunity in that space. Particularly with the U.S. investments in the corridor and angola and also the president's work in trying to bring about peace in the eastern congo that allows us to establish a peace that we can tap into that economic potential.
▶ 0:55:58Sen. Hagerty: I think china's presence is a concern to all of us on the committee. If you could focus a little bit of your time explaining our critical mineral strategy and how that relates to what china is doing and what you're seeing on the ground with china.
▶ 0:56:14Mr. Checker: Absolutely. As you know senator we cannot compete dollar for dollar with the chinese on the continent. The critical mineral -- critical mineral areas where we need to target our energies. The chinese do dominate the sector. They sweep into these countries and they exploit workers, the environmental record is atrocious so what we are trying to do pursuing a commercial diplomacy strategy that brings american companies in with a clear value proposition.
▶ 0:56:46Mr. Checker: We will follow the law and then partner in a win-win proposition for development. We've been focusing on the congo , area where the supply chains what need to spend moving west towards the united states were we can refine those and really end the chinese monopoly of the critical mineral supply chain.
▶ 0:57:10Sen. Hagerty: Finding ourselves where we were last year with the chokepoint operation. Speaking of the rest of the world in the U.S. as well the demographic trends are deeply concerning in europe, parts of asia, even in the united states we are seeing a birthrate that's below replacement. And it suggests to me we need to be looking for larger markets, growing markets, growing demographics in places where production can take place. I've heard sec.
▶ 0:57:37Sen. Hagerty: Of state rubio talk about trade not aid. It suggests were trying to get to the point of self-sufficiency but even beyond that I see great opportunity and I would like to get your vision on how we can tap that opportunity, of the growth potential you've touched on maybe you could expand on that.
▶ 0:57:57Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question. What we are looking to do, we recognize sustainable economic growth does not come from aid, it comes from trade and from private enterprise. That's why the administration's been focused on at this point we put billions of dollars in terms of deals on the continent. We boosted our american exports to the continent. 1520% at this point. We are making sniffing and inroads there there are still a lot of untapped potential.
▶ 0:58:28Mr. Checker: It's only a fraction of her exports to the continent. So I think there is room for growth. Part of our commercial strategy we've been advocating for these countries to adopt market-based reforms to make it a more level playing field for investors to compete with the chinese and really make inroads in these markets and also more effectively use our financing tools.
▶ 0:58:51Mr. Checker: To make it easier for american companies to get a foothold on the continent and have those ripple effects that hopefully moves these african countries towards a sustainable path of economic growth.
▶ 0:59:05Sen. Hagerty: Thank you for your focus, it's a chance for a real seachange in a relationship. It's a respectful way to deal with the continent and it offers the opportunity we want to see every person on the planet to have. And U.S. pacific -- participation and that is essential. Thank you.
▶ 0:59:22Sen. Cruz: Senator coons.
▶ 0:59:27Sen. Coons: Thank you chairman cruz and ranking member booker. Thank you Ms. jacobsen and Mr. checker. Trade more than aid. I wish someone had talked about that for years and years, a written a bipartisan bill and gotten it signed into law.
▶ 0:59:42Sen. Coons: The bill the creed of the develop and finance corporation from the years I chaired the subcommittee in hearing after hearing month after month almost every single theme that was discussed and addressed today was discussed and addressed in hearings eight to 10, 12 or 14 years ago. So first I could spend a lot of time quibbling with you about which administration did what and which success or failure there was but I prefer to focus on the things that I think we can all agree on.
▶ 1:00:12Sen. Coons: The abrupt abandonment of somalia by the trump administration was ill advised, the withdrawal from niger was will invite -- was ill advised. I think competition with the chinese continent wide has become steadily more urgent in the 16 years I've spent here engaged in this topic. There was a rumor at the end of the last year that the administration was about to close 10 embassies in africa. I hope that is not the case.
▶ 1:00:46Sen. Coons: We have 36 embassies without ambassadors in africa. The chinese have embassies and ambassadors in every country except -- which remains in a good relationship with taiwan. Could you just speak briefly to whether the administration has any plans to advance nominees and to sustain its current footprint so that we have a platform for the commercial service that the development finance corporation and others
▶ 1:01:16Sen. Coons: Can operate at without ambassadors leaving embassies we like the partnership and access that helps in our counterterrorism mission and our mutual relations with africa.
▶ 1:01:34Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question senator. We have several ambassadors on the continent and every embassy you mentioned is still led by a career diplomat.
▶ 1:01:39Sen. Coons: You know as well as I do we have a shar j instead of an ambassador we have great difficulty getting access.
▶ 1:01:46Mr. Checker: That can be true at times.
▶ 1:01:50Sen. Coons: I saw that over and over. This is not just this administration but we have never had a deficit this great in terms of senate confirmed ambassadors.
▶ 1:01:58Mr. Checker: I would note there is an ongoing process, the timeline I would have to refer to the white house.
▶ 1:02:07Sen. Coons: How far into this administration are we?
▶ 1:02:09Mr. Checker: Over a year.
▶ 1:02:13Sen. Coons: And get a 54 countries 36 we have no ambassador. I think it is something that the chair and ranking member of the full committee have repeatedly said if we -- I am happy to sit through confirmation hearings. We need to fill these ambassador role positions. There is another bill lindsey graham and I worked on for six years but president trump signed into law called the global fragility act.
▶ 1:02:42Sen. Coons: I think you were the one sir who said we need a strategy that is aligned, accountable and sustained. Were you in the room for the debates and discussions about the global fragility act? That's all most exactly what to do -- we described as the goal which was to come up with 10 year strategies, create a deal with fragile states that are not failed states. So countries like burkina faso, mali, which are now demonstrably failed states.
▶ 1:03:15Sen. Coons: One of the points was the look oral states the ones immediately south of those and mozambique a country where you have a really critical extremist islamist movement that is essential to our national security to their resources and development.
▶ 1:03:32Sen. Coons: Could you both speak to how important you think it is to meaningfully implement this law signed by president trump to come up with a strategy that brings together state, the development functions now within state and the department of defense to have a coordinated sustainable long-term strategy.
▶ 1:03:55Mr. Checker: As part of our foreign assistance realignment we are of course always looking for how we can achieve complementarity between the entire inter-agency when it comes to programming. In those countries you mentioned, I'm sure my colleague could speak to what we are doing.
▶ 1:04:15Ms. Jacobsen: I will just say senator I'm familiar with the global fragility act and I think as with all bills that are passed by the hill and put into legislation, -- laws sorry, that are put into law we do implement them fully and so I'm aware.
▶ 1:04:35Sen. Coons: Do you see any value in this approach?
▶ 1:04:38Ms. Jacobsen: I think we do see value in this approach.
▶ 1:04:42Sen. Coons: How are you implementing?
▶ 1:04:45Ms. Jacobsen: The counterterrorism bureau is not specifically responsible for implement in the global fragility act.
▶ 1:04:50Sen. Coons: The bureau that was specifically responsible has been eliminated.
▶ 1:04:55Ms. Jacobsen: Right. I can tell you that in the counterterrorism space we are working with a range of partner governments including these mid-level fragile states like mozambique to address counterterrorism concerns, to build in prevention targeting recruitment where laws have been plastic -- passed by the congress we do implement them.
▶ 1:05:21Sen. Coons: I will just be blunt for closing comment. The foreign aid realignment was a six month period of profound chaos where thousands of people were laid off, dozens of programs were canceled. Billions and commodities wasted or redirected and absolutely, I expected after the election a realignment and reassessment of usaid.
▶ 1:05:49Sen. Coons: Had already worked on two different bipartisan bills to reassess and refocus usaid. But I think what we did instead was create an enormous opening for the chinese, profoundly undermined long-standing partnerships and put us on the back foot. I was involved in the peace efforts between drc rwanda under the last administration, we had the opportunity for essentially a warm hand off.
▶ 1:06:15Sen. Coons: I was encouraged to hear you speak positively about the infrastructure investments in angola and southern africa. I think there was a possibility to sustain bipartisan long-term investments, but bluntly the doge chaos set us back and I'm looking for partners willing and able to look at what we can do that makes a lasting difference. Thank you.
▶ 1:06:36Sen. Cruz: Senator van hollen.
▶ 1:06:40Sen. Van Hollen: Let me jump in here. Mr. checker just picking up on what senator coons said about this time last year we had the elon musk doge cuts. He infamously said he want to put usaid in the wood chipper. They did a lot of damage in my view.
▶ 1:07:04Sen. Van Hollen: It was reported recently in the guardian that you said the state department should unabashedly and aggressively "remind african governments about the generosity of the american people." it goes on to report other things from an email. Do you deny having made the statements recorded?
▶ 1:07:25Mr. Checker: While reluctant to comment about leaked documents I would say the context of that is to say the united states should be unapologetic in branding. Any assistance for that matter the people know it comes from the united states taxpayer and not as just some sort of ngo or charitable project.
▶ 1:07:45Sen. Van Hollen: Senator coons and I would agree that's why a id at the logo from the american people. So when you cut dramatically U.S. communitarian assistance you also took away the benefit to our country of creating more goodwill.
▶ 1:08:06Sen. Van Hollen: So I'm all for letting people know what the american taxpayer is doing but what we did was cut back dramatically so it was a little ironic you were essentially telling people to talk more about what we did when we were in fact cutting back. Have you seen reports from the lancet and others that show the death toll has been resulting from the cuts to usaid assistance question mark have you seen any of those reports.
▶ 1:08:32Mr. Checker: No sir I have not.
▶ 1:08:35Sen. Van Hollen: Do you have plans to assess or evaluate the human harm done from those cuts?
▶ 1:08:41Mr. Checker: Senator I would simply reiterate that the united states under this administration remains the most generous country in the world and something uniquely american responsibility to providing to fulfilling these need gaps dip can be filled by other donors from host countries.
▶ 1:08:58Sen. Van Hollen: You are right it's not but as we speak the acting administration is discouraging our european partners from providing ongoing aid. Are you aware of the fact that the lancet medical journal indicated the current foreign aid funding trends continue an additional 9.4 million people will die by 2030? Including two and a half million children? Have you seen that?
▶ 1:09:24Mr. Checker: I have not.
▶ 1:09:26Sen. Van Hollen: I encourage you to look at this analysis of the harm value because it is not just humanitarian terms which in my view is significant but also U.S. interests especially when we agree with you that we should let people know about the generosity of the american people. Let me turn to sudan we are just past the three year mark in a devastating civil war. The president of the national prayer breakfast said were working hard and that war and we are close to.
▶ 1:09:58Sen. Van Hollen: As we speak we've seen an increase in the intervention from outside sources, external reports stands where it's grown more overt. I don't know if you have seen the yale report about material assistance to the rsm occurring through the base in ethiopia. Have you seen those reports?
▶ 1:10:21Mr. Checker: No senator.
▶ 1:10:23Sen. Van Hollen: Ok. Do you agree it should be a priority of the united states to try to end the civil war in sudan?
▶ 1:10:32Mr. Checker: Absolutely. The president and secretary been cleared we will end the war in sudan and we are very committed over $500 million in the last fiscal year and humanitarian response.
▶ 1:10:46Sen. Van Hollen: Is puzzling then you are not aware of the fact the uae is working to establish this space in ethiopia.
▶ 1:10:58Mr. Checker: I would say senator administration very clearly external support to parties in conflict to reach the end of that.
▶ 1:11:08Sen. Van Hollen: Would you agree that since one of the biggest supporters and providers of military assistance to the irs f , which this administration has concluded is committing genocide , the uae, that the united states should do more to discourage the uae from transferring those weapons to the irs f?
▶ 1:11:31Mr. Checker: Again senator I think the senator has been clear the result -- all external backers need to cease that support.
▶ 1:11:42Sen. Van Hollen: I'm looking not at statements but at success and results. And all the information we are getting suggests the opposite. That outside parties are actually increasing the tempo of support to the warring parties in sudan. So I heard the president's words reported from the prayer breakfast.
▶ 1:12:11Sen. Van Hollen: I also know what he said to the saudi leader when he was here. What I have not seen the results. So we look forward to continuing to that information as to what we are getting done.
▶ 1:12:25Sen. Cruz: Ranking member booker.
▶ 1:12:29Sen. Booker: If you can sense frustration from some of us the words don't seem to match the reality and that is a real frustration from us. Especially for a lot of us this is not a political issue, this is not an area that's being reported even in a lot of home states. This is an issue of urgency for us. We see the horrific suffering on the continent and the opportunity as well.
▶ 1:12:57Sen. Booker: It is frustrating to a lot of us because we worked in a bipartisan manner for years as you heard from senator coons to do really good work from lindsey graham to secretary rubio himself, we partnered on a lot of work and got a lot of things done. Under the first trump administration that we are now watching the eviscerated before our eyes.
▶ 1:13:22Sen. Booker: Trade not aid is a great slogan, but aid is a great slogan but it is hard to not have aid when health emergencies are going. We saw our own economy shrink during covid. It is hard to open up trade and market when we don't have ambassadors. We both traveled around the continent and have seen, as he said eloquently, hierarchical societies where ambassadors have many opportunities, I have seen it in many countries.
▶ 1:13:51Sen. Booker: It is hard to have trade when we are a nation cutting the very programs and partnerships, undermining them. I have a lot of frustration because I agree with words out of your administration but actions you take make me continue to conclude that africa is not a central focus, nor are we making investments to compete, especially against our adversaries who are out stepping us.
▶ 1:14:22Sen. Booker: It is very frustrating to me that I see things like january 2026 the email to the bureau of african affairs staff stating, this is your quote, to put it bluntly, africa is periphery, rather than core theater of U.S. interests. And in your testimony here, seems to put lipstick on that pig. Is africa peripheral, substantively or not?
▶ 1:14:47Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question, senator. I'm happy to provide you the full content of that email. I know some was leaked to the guardian. The original sentence was that does not mean africa is irrelevant. The email was to help staff figure out how to implement national strategy. At any stretch there will be prioritization. When I said africa was peripheral, it was based on how they talked about east asia and the western hemisphere being core.
▶ 1:15:17Mr. Checker: Not everything can be a core, vital interest. It was drawing relative comparison. As the chairman said, president trump met with over 15 african leaders and we have been engaged in the continent. I traveled the continent extensively. I think it is unfair.
▶ 1:15:34Sen. Booker: I don't think it is unfair. When you put very few economic staff or department commerce details at embassies, when you have no confirmed ambassadors in 34 after 46 african post, when you provide no funding to create enabling environments, despite the fact congress provides funding for many of these commercial programs in a bipartisan fashion. This administration cuts those programs.
▶ 1:16:05Sen. Booker: I hear you saying these words, but really that leaked email seems to more indicate the truth of what your actions are, which is de-prioritizing africa, cutting programs, cutting things that don't even cost us money like putting ambassadors in the country to open up opportunities for our businesses.
▶ 1:16:29Sen. Booker: I cannot accept the premise that there is a match, in accord, between your actions and your statements. Somalia, it appears to be one of the most active counterterrorism fears for the U.S. military under the trump administration, with a dramatic uptick in airstrikes.
▶ 1:16:53Sen. Booker: At the same time the state department appears to be backing out of the room to review cut security assistance to both somalia and african forces fighting on the ground, you cut stabilization programs for those areas, and set to end humanitarian assistance to the country. I'm struggling to understand our policy with regard to somalia and content -- containing threats that undermine U.S.
▶ 1:17:21Sen. Booker: Is this interest as well as strategic interests in the area. Particularly the threat posed by al qaeda's largest and wealthiest affiliate which is now apparently coordinating with the houthis in yemen. I don't understand how this constitutes having a strategy there you can't bomb this terrorist organization out of existence without a more comprehensive approach. Again you're playing whac-a-mole . The reports from the u.n.
▶ 1:17:52Sen. Booker: Terrorism monitor says while isis somalia may have been degraded by recent operations, al-shabaab is not. Beyond airstrikes against terrorist organizations and small you, what other components are there to the administration's strategy? This committee and bipartisan fashion has tried to work together to do something, but when it comes to diplomatic, developmental, economic or other military effort such as training, it does not seem you all are using any other tool to
▶ 1:18:24Help Bringmr. Checker: Thank you
▶ 1:18:31Help Bringmr. Checker: Thank yoe question, senator. As far as our somalia policy is concerned we have effectively engaged with it for 17 years at this point and have seen the inability of this emollient government to take response ability for their own security. The status quo is unworkable. What the administration has been doing is working with federal government and member states to maintain pressure on al-shabaab, encouraging the federal government of small yield to stop infighting.
▶ 1:18:59Help Bringmr. Checker: A message I delivered explicitly to their president earlier this year and we have been burden shifting to other players more proximate cause for concern in the region. The uae has been working with forces to degrade isys somalia. We do provide a variety of ct programs to support counterterrorism financing and border security I'm sure my colleague could speak to.
▶ 1:19:26Help Bringmr. Checker: It is acceptance of the status quo and some all you is not workable nationbuilding is not our objective and we cannot go 17 years without thinking -- rethinking our approach.
▶ 1:19:37Sen. Cruz: Thank you paired Mr. checker on the topic of somalia, let's turn to small you's neighbor. Somaliland is a geostrategic U.S. maritime security partner in africa along the gulf of aden near one of the world's busiest shipping core doors and its forces actively contribute to counterterrorism and anti-piracy missions.
▶ 1:20:05Sen. Cruz: Somaliland stands with allies including taiwan and israel and lines of U.S. interest in a region china is aggressively expanding. Most recently israel's decision to formally recognize somaliland in december 20 25 underscores its growing strategic relevance. Late last year general anderson the U.S.
▶ 1:20:25Sen. Cruz: African commander was in somaliland to meet with somaliland leadership to assess the security environment and review port operational capacity. The kind of partner we should be encouraging and one that will shape how we confront ct challenges in the horn of africa. Last summer I sent a letter to president trump urging formal recognition of somaliland.
▶ 1:20:51Sen. Cruz: Unsurprisingly the chinese communist party immediately condemned my letter, which only shows how important somaliland is to national security. Critics argue recognizing somaliland could introduce new ct risks or undermine our pressure -- posture. I would say the opposite.
▶ 1:21:11Sen. Cruz: Working with a capable partner like somaliland strengthens our ct posture particularly when somalia struggles with instability and terrorist threats. Two questions per how do you assess somaliland's role today in contributing to regional security particularly in ct operations?
▶ 1:21:32Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question. I agree somaliland has been a very good partner, ct and otherwise with the U.S. we had a positive relationship with them and other states but the policy of the administration for now, we continue to recognize the sovereignty of the federal government of somalia but within that framework we look for opportunities to deepen cooperation with somaliland.
▶ 1:21:58Sen. Cruz: Let me follow-up. What opportunities exist for the U.S. to deepen security cooperation with somaliland, such as basing intelligence sharing, domain awareness, etc.?
▶ 1:22:11Sen. Booker: I would have to --
▶ 1:22:13Mr. Checker: I would have to defer to my colleague to speak more to that. On what specifically we could be doing for them.
▶ 1:22:26Sen. Cruz: I recognize the decision whether to recognize somaliland or not is not a decision for you to make but let me ask you this. If the U.S. were to recognize somaliland, what do you think the effect would be?
▶ 1:22:39Mr. Checker: I would have to refer you to the intelligence community assessment on the implications of the final decision.
▶ 1:22:50Sen. Cruz: I think the implications would be strengthening an ally and I think clarity is powerfully effective in foreign policy and national security and I think that is an approach president trump has embodied so I have a high level of optimism that by the end of this term president trump will recognize somaliland and I think that would enhance U.S. national security.
▶ 1:23:14Sen. Cruz: If you doubt that, take a look at the chinese communist party's hysterical reaction to my urging that recognition. To quote the bard, methinks she doth protest too much. Anytime president xi is hysterically upset at something that tells you you may be on the right direction. Ms. jacobsen, let's shift to a different topic.
▶ 1:23:39Sen. Cruz: A grim reality of counterterrorism and geopolitics broadly, threats cross national boundaries and implicate entire regions. In the western sahara iran is actively working to turn a front to the houthis for west front which works with iranian terrorist groups, tics drones and resources around the region including jihadis and more.
▶ 1:24:08Sen. Cruz: Iran's goal as it is everywhere is to destabilize entire regions and far too often they have succeeded. As some of your colleagues will recall from the last subcommittee hearing I believe that front should be designated that way if they are found to be cooperating with iranian affiliated groups on military operations, weapon systems,
▶ 1:24:39Sen. Cruz: Drones, antiaircraft weapons to this issue should be a no-brainer. If the polisario is receiving those elements with iranian terrorists they classify. First, what can you say based on open source intelligence about the degree of cooperation between the polisario front and iranian terrorist groups including hezbollah and the irgc?
▶ 1:25:05Ms. Jacobsen: Senator I appreciate the work you have done to highlight the concerns with the polisario front including raising it with my colleagues in the hearing on north africa ct issues earlier this year peered we share concerns about the polisario front and their impact in the ct space peered what I can say with confidence in an open hearing is, the region where the polisario front operates its
▶ 1:25:37Ms. Jacobsen: Near trafficking and militant activity and this creates vulnerabilities that external actors including iran could seek to exploit. We are closely monitoring the situation and are vigilant to those threats. I'm tracking the allegations regarding engagement with hezbollah and irgc and the state department intelligence community are working closely on that. I think our teams are setting up a classified briefing where we can speak more at length about those potential concerns.
▶ 1:26:08Ms. Jacobsen: I will also say, across the globe we are incredibly [indiscernible] addressing the irgc threats as well as its proxies and partners. I just returned from budapest where I gathered 35 governments together to talk about how to encounter this threat that includes several senior leader officials from the continent of africa. We are incredibly appreciative for the support you provided in this space.
▶ 1:26:38Ms. Jacobsen: I want to highlight that irgc threats, threats from partners and proxies are of the of most concern.
▶ 1:26:45Sen. Cruz: Thank you. Senator hagerty. No additional senator booker?
▶ 1:26:57Sen. Booker: One of the things I'm confused about, in nigeria we have christians being killed. As a result of terrorism. And, it is disturbing to me. I'm christian, but my faith is rooted in unconditional love for all peoples.
▶ 1:27:23Sen. Booker: So at a hearing where people are talking about the christians being slaughtered, but there are muslims being slaughtered. In fact, considerably more muslims are being slaughtered in nigeria by terrorism than christians. I would think the christian faith would want to center that, in the levels of urgency we feel.
▶ 1:27:47Sen. Booker: In fact, if you actually know the bible, the story of the good samaritan is about the urgency to love those who don't pray like you, don't look like you, may not be from your same community, but it is about the existential urgency of the christian faith to love all of god's children. Am I correct Ms. jacobsen, that muslims are being slaughtered by terrorist attacks in nigeria?
▶ 1:28:17Ms. Jacobsen: Yes, you're correct. The terrorist threat has absolutely touched muslims, christians, a whole range of faiths across nigeria.
▶ 1:28:29Sen. Booker: Is the administration concerned about the slaughtering of muslims?
▶ 1:28:33Ms. Jacobsen: The president and the secretary have been clear that we must protect religious liberty and that certainly applies to the terrorism threat we are seeing in nigeria. But I can speak more broadly to our counterterrorism efforts across nigeria, where we have held the nigerian government's feet to the fire to address their terrorist threats both in the north where we see isis west africa and boko haram committing horrific attacks, as well as in
▶ 1:29:06Ms. Jacobsen: The middle belt where we see militias targeting christians in that space.
▶ 1:29:11Sen. Booker: What is frustrating to me, I hear those words but they remain empty when I'm told the ministry -- administration that supports religious liberty and cuts programs we have in a bipartisan way in this committee have funded to support religious freedom and religious liberty.
▶ 1:29:38Sen. Booker: I understand that is a state department decision, but yet again we are saying one thing and our actions truly belie that and display hypocrisy that is stunning to me and then we say the only solution to this, since religious groups are being persecuted, is then to engage in the only tool it seems we know how to use, which is military action.
▶ 1:30:08Sen. Booker: As opposed to investing instability that can help not only that military action not be necessary, but to protect religious groups on the ground. This is really very frustrating. It is a hypocrisy that delegitimize is us as a nation. Like in all the persecuted minorities, to the point where we see a genocide in sudan.
▶ 1:30:34Sen. Booker: But this administration, with all its bluster, rushes to south africa to protect the persecution of white people, alleging persecution I could say, which makes a mockery of our country's priorities.
▶ 1:30:49Sen. Booker: This is the disconnect on the continent that not only undermines our stated missions but undermines us as the partner of choice amongst many of these nations peered when they cs act with such blatant hypocrisy where our words do not align with our actions, or in my case, the faith that is often used -- I will stop here.
▶ 1:31:18Sen. Booker: As my ranking member settles in, and allow her, Mr. chairman, to ask questions.
▶ 1:31:27Sen. Cruz: Senator shaheen. Didn't mean to get you just when you sat down.
▶ 1:31:33Sen. Sheehy: And don't do that to me. I just got here. [laughter] keep going.
▶ 1:31:38Sen. Cruz: I'm confident senator booker can fill the time.
▶ 1:31:42Sen. Booker: I will ask one more question. Just trying to be deferential, forgive me. The administration is proposing to cut funding for the peacekeeping operations account which is by 92% next year.
▶ 1:31:59Sen. Booker: This has been the main source for counterterrorism programs in africa including those that increase burden sharing and train security including lead counterterrorism units in partnership with countries so they can do the critical work on the ground. Congress in bipartisan fashion provided $355 million to this account for this fiscal year. What is the administration's plans to use these funds in africa?
▶ 1:32:29Mr. Checker: Senator I would be happy to take that back with my io colleagues as well, the future of the peacekeeping expenses.
▶ 1:32:39Sen. Booker: Again as I said in my opening remarks the urgency to have a whole of government approach on the fact we are having a hearing on stopping counterterrorism, the fact my partners on the other side of the aisle and I put $355 million in an account to do just that, that does not involve a military but a state department that has gutted so many groups that focus on africa, it continues to highlight and undermine why so
▶ 1:33:10Sen. Booker: Many of us are so frustrated. Terrorist groups thrive in areas where there is weak law enforcement and the justice sector has lost capacity per congress has funded programs to partner with countries with these issues. These are bipartisan programs to strengthen judiciary sectors in law enforcement.
▶ 1:33:34Sen. Booker: These programs have helped law enforcement and judicial systems investigate and stop in illicit activities such as human trafficking, weapons, drug smuggling, extortion regimes. With so many programs being terminated, like these, that clearly would go a long way to accomplishing our goals, where inspector generals and others have said very bluntly that investments in these programs save us more money that has to be spent in military operations, what is going on with some of
▶ 1:34:05Sen. Booker: Those programs that may be you can enlighten us with what the department is doing to strengthen the judiciary and local law enforcement in some of these problem areas?
▶ 1:34:15Mr. Checker: Senator, happy to provide a comprehensive review but taking for instance nigeria specifically, [indiscernible] continue to provide support for police training. Police training still occurs across the continent. I would have to come back with more robust --
▶ 1:34:34Sen. Booker: I would love for you to come back. The trump administration has not published foreign assistance data since its 2025 review of foreign assistance. I cannot get my hand on information to know what the hell you all are doing. I hear your words, I agree with your words, it is your actions that deeply disturbed me.
▶ 1:34:55Sen. Booker: Getting information in a hearing is what we are supposed to be doing, but it seems we are woefully prepared for questions on the basic aspects of what should be a whole of government counterterrorism policy. Mr. checker I hope you provide this. I will ask questions to this hearing for the record and I hope I can get my colleague, just asking for the facts.
▶ 1:35:20Sen. Booker: It is very frustrating to me not to have information or explanation as senator coons has said, for things that for years we worked on, and the president of the U.S. in the first term seemed to be all in on. Secretary rubio as a senator partnered with us on.
▶ 1:35:40Sen. Booker: I need more information, more transparency, more accountability, because of everything on seeing and reading about is true, then yes, your statement is actually true. You put it bluntly, to this administration, africa is peripheral rather than a core theater for U.S. interests. I do for now to my much more senior and esteemed colleague.
▶ 1:36:07Sen. Cruz: Senator shaheen.
▶ 1:36:09Sen. Shaheen: I'm not that much more senior. [laughter]
▶ 1:36:13Sen. Booker: Seniority.
▶ 1:36:14Sen. Cruz: My advice is, stop talking now.
▶ 1:36:18Sen. Shaheen: Thank you, senator cruz. Thank you to you senator cruz and also for the diet dr pepper into senator booker for holding this hearing. I'm late because I was at another hearing. I want to start with you, Mr. checker.
▶ 1:36:35Sen. Shaheen: In march the treasury department delisted sanctions on key malian defense officials who were sanctioned for their facilitation of the russian mercenary operation the wegner group which has renamed itself as africa core. It was delisted to congress as a political decision in hopes of improving U.S. relations with mali.
▶ 1:37:00Sen. Shaheen: At times to improve these relations were under the assumptions that mali would provide us with overflight access for the U.S. to search for kidnapped american citizen kevin riddell who went missing in october 2025. He is presumed to now be held in mali by extremist groups. Mr.
▶ 1:37:22Sen. Shaheen: Checker you recently visited mali to meet with government officials peered while we not received the necessary clearance to conduct overflights for kevin riddell?
▶ 1:37:31Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question, senator. Happy to speak more about this with you in a classified setting but I can say our whole engagement, was about resetting relations with mali.
▶ 1:37:48Mr. Checker: Normalization will be essential if we are going to have them play a role in the burden shift to make sure we have this ability, where we have seen the expansion of islamic jihadist groups which include isis.
▶ 1:38:06Sen. Shaheen: I recently met with representatives from africom who did not think mali would be interested in working with us on counterterrorism.
▶ 1:38:21Sen. Shaheen: So why do you think they are interested in working with us and what other pressure points have you used on the government and why didn't we get a commitment for overflights before releasing sanctions or renew zing -- renewing economic cooperation?
▶ 1:38:39Mr. Checker: I would say the sticks approach did not work. The previous administration, my predecessor, went to niger and lectured them on how to restore democracy, hold elections --
▶ 1:38:56Sen. Shaheen: I was not asking you about that. What I'm asking you about is what we are doing now with mali to try to ensure that our goals are accomplished.
▶ 1:39:12Mr. Checker: We're indicating we are willing to engage in pragmatic cooperation with governments and not engage in a lecturer.
▶ 1:39:21Sen. Shaheen: I'm not suggesting you lecture them but I feel I ought to lecture you because you are not responding to my question. What are we getting in return for lifting of these sanctions? Because so far we haven't gotten anything that I can see.
▶ 1:39:39Mr. Checker: I think it is an attempt to rebuild goodwill with these governments because there is palpable Mr. trump -- mistrust of the U.S.. The reason for engaging them is to show we are willing to pragmatically engage on issues of mutual concern, namely, counterterrorism.
▶ 1:40:00Sen. Shaheen: To move from there to sudan, I'm sure you have seen the satellite imagery that shows the scale of the massacres conducted by the rs f a andl fasher in october 2025.
▶ 1:40:20Sen. Shaheen: On april 8 it was reported the rs f has been using any field in military base to facilitate an offensive into sudan to open a new front in the war and according to the report, illicit weapons or bring brought into and across ethiopia. Increasingly this region of africa has seen illicit weapons -- weapons and drones from the now three year war in sudan.
▶ 1:40:45Sen. Shaheen: My staff returned from travel to the region made more precarious because the airspace over sudan is cut off due to the weapons and arms. As this region becomes more destabilized it becomes more of a risk, more a safe haven for violent actors.
▶ 1:41:04Sen. Shaheen: Can you talk about what the strategy is for stopping this illicit weapons flow and have you considered the idea of sanctions on the rs f for designating them as a foreign terrorist organization?
▶ 1:41:20Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question. President trump and the secretary are committed to ending this conflict as you said, it is the world's largest humanitarian crisis. We have been pushing aggressively at efforts to achieve a humanitarian truce which could provide a predicate to move toward a more durable political settlement.
▶ 1:41:45Mr. Checker: I think the secretary has been very clear that external support to both parties needs to stop immediately and he has raised that at the highest levels and we continue to push parties to that.
▶ 1:41:56Sen. Shaheen: But it hasn't happened yet, right? What other options are we considering with respect to putting more pressure to end that support, because dem is -- designating the rs f as a foreign terrorism organization would cause pause among those entities providing them with weapons and support.
▶ 1:42:18Mr. Checker: The secretary said if we believe designated the --rsf designating thersf as an fto, with other options remain on the table.
▶ 1:42:31Sen. Shaheen: Would it help in the conflict?
▶ 1:42:33Mr. Checker: I don't want to speak for the secretary. Would have to come back to you.
▶ 1:42:39Sen. Shaheen: We will submit that question for the record she can give us a view on the. Ms. jacobsen, as head of the counterterrorism bureau do you have a view on the?
▶ 1:42:52Ms. Jacobsen: Thank you for the question. As Mr. checker highlighted, all options are on the table and if designating the rsf will be helpful, we will consider it. It is something under discussion and the counterterrorism bureau is committed to the peace process.
▶ 1:43:16Ms. Jacobsen: I would highlight we did recently designate as a foreign terrorist organization another actor that is engaged in violence in sudan and that is the sudanese muslim brotherhood which has not only committed atrocious violence against civilians but has also received assistance, training and weapons from the irgc.
▶ 1:43:40Sen. Shaheen: I understand that none of the actors in sudan are blameless, in terms of atrocities, but I'm interested in what more action we could take that might have an impact on that conflict. Thank you.
▶ 1:44:00Sen. Cruz: Thank you. Ms. jacobsen, let's stay on that topic. The muslim brotherhood poses a global and an acute threat to american national security interests into the safety and security of americans. They export extremism, sharia and terrorism across borders and into america. As you know I've been pushing the just laois and to designate the muslim brotherhood throughout my time in the senate. I've introduced it in nearly every congress since I was first elected in 2012.
▶ 1:44:32Sen. Cruz: I strongly support the president's efforts to continue pursuing additional chapter designations as well as a global designation. The president and his counterterrorism advisors are acutely aware of the threat and of taken unprecedented steps to counter it. The administration designated sudanese chapters of the puzzle brotherhood adds fto's and sdgt's. Speak to the threat that prompted that designation.
▶ 1:45:02Ms. Jacobsen: Very much appreciate your interest in this and your support. As you noted, the president and secretary are deeply committed to targeting the muslim brotherhood threat wherever it occurs including through the executive order issued november 2025 and ultimate designations in january of lebanese, egyptian and jordanian muslim brotherhood and the sudanese muslim brotherhood chapter as you
▶ 1:45:34Ms. Jacobsen: Mentioned would we really see when we moved forward with the designation three benefits. First as noted, the sudanese muslim brotherhood is engaged in the conflict in ways that undermine peace that we are trying to push forward. Second they are also engaged with the irgc receiving weapons, training, funding.
▶ 1:46:02Ms. Jacobsen: We are committed to targeting the irgc threat wherever it may occur. Third we are engaged in targeting the muslim brotherhood threat wherever it occurs in the world. While we initially targeted three branches in the middle east, we do see that influence across the globe. It is important to identify the muslim brotherhood threat is present in africa. We see other chapters in influence as well. We had partners we are deeply engaged with.
▶ 1:46:33Ms. Jacobsen: Can you recently designated the muslim brotherhood as a terrorist group as well. It is part of a continued sustained effort to target the muslim brotherhood wherever it operates including on the african continent.
▶ 1:46:46Sen. Cruz: Let's zoom out. What is the scope and structure of the muslim brotherhood's activities in africa including sudan, and how do these networks operate and interact with terrorist organizations on the ground?
▶ 1:47:01Ms. Jacobsen: I very much appreciate the question and the opportunity to talk about the threat. There was a lot I need to speak to you in a classified setting about this space but the muslim brotherhood has a global network. They are very savvy on public messaging and deeply ingrained. We see operations in north africa along with sub-saharan africa.
▶ 1:47:28Ms. Jacobsen: To speak to you about what those branches look like and the threat they pose I would like to do that in a classified setting but I can tell you we are seized of that issue and this is not the end of designations.
▶ 1:47:47Sen. Cruz: I will say with history you are aware of my earlier versions of the muslim brotherhood designation bill directed this global brotherhood be designated and I think in the first trump term we almost got it done.
▶ 1:48:05Sen. Cruz: Ultimately, career officials at the state department managed to dissuade the department from doing so because they argued they were individual affiliates of the muslim brotherhood, that there was not sufficient evidence to demonstrate they were in fact terrorist organizations. The old version of the bill was top-down. The current version as you know, I inverted, made it bottom-up.
▶ 1:48:30Sen. Cruz: The current version directs the administration to designate every muslim brotherhood affiliate for which there is sufficient evidence they are terrorist organizations, and step two, to designate the global muslim brotherhood as a terrorist organization for providing material support to the undoubted terrorist affiliates that are part of it. I'm not going to ask you to commit because I recognize you cannot.
▶ 1:48:59Sen. Cruz: But I have every hope and expectation that by the end of this trump administration the president will have designated the muslim muslim brotherhood as well which is a critically important step for national security. I'm not going to ask you to comment but you can say anything you like on that.
▶ 1:49:14Ms. Jacobsen: Thank you. I will just say I have reviewed the bill, and I think it is consistent with the trump administration's policy on targeting the muslim brotherhood threat wherever it occurs.
▶ 1:49:24Sen. Cruz: Thank you. Let's turn to a different topic for both of you. As we look at the evolving threat environment in africa it is not just local instability driving trends. Our adversaries are increasingly shaping the battlefield in ways that undermine U.S. interest. Let's start with china. What role does china play directly or indirectly in enabling conditions that allow terrorism and instability to grow across africa?
▶ 1:49:54Ms. Jacobsen: I appreciate your interest in this and I can say there is not a doubt that china is behaving as a maligned actor in africa, as it does across the globe, seeking to persuade other governments to undermine U.S. interests, including in the ct space. It is self-serving and exploitative impact across the region. That said our important counterterrorism partners are eager in africa to cooperate with us.
▶ 1:50:25Ms. Jacobsen: China is not perceived in africa as a helpful counterterrorism partner, and our ct relationships are comparative advantage over our strategic competitors like china in the space. Where it aligns with U.S. interest we work with africa bureau and others across the agency to identify opportunities where our ct opportunities can build partnerships.
▶ 1:50:49Sen. Cruz: Mr. checker, geographically the -- where is china's footprint most consequential?
▶ 1:50:59Mr. Checker: Senator, I have to get back to to provide an answer in writing on where we think that will be.
▶ 1:51:08Sen. Cruz: Final topic. Let's shift the discussion to east africa, specifically resource rich mozambique where we see a dangerous convergence of terrorism and strategic economic interests affecting U.S. priorities. The terrorism threat in mosul because growing as isis mozambique continues to conduct attacks affecting safety, security and U.S. economic interest would meanwhile adversaries are stepping in.
▶ 1:51:39Sen. Cruz: The chinese have increased security engagement with the mozambique government through training equipment and joint military exercises. In august 2020 for the chinese had its largest people's liberation army deployments africa ever in a military exercise in tanzania and mozambique. Even russia previously deployed approximately 200 wagner group mercenaries in 2019 to support operations against isis-linked groups.
▶ 1:52:06Sen. Cruz: The mozambique military remains undertrained and underequipped to meet the threat and requires increased support. This is a question to both of you. What is the U.S. approach to helping the mozambique government combat isis mozambique and is it enough to address the scale of the threat?
▶ 1:52:25Mr. Checker: Thank you for the question. As you rightly point out we have an enormous economic opportunity in northern mozambique. We have exxon mobil and some of the largest U.S. investment on the continent there as well as the graphite mine my colleague referred to. With respect to the isis mozambique threat we are interested in helping improve capacity in a targeted way.
▶ 1:52:57Mr. Checker: Also rwandans are deployed in the region and there will be benefits of them working in conjunction and we provided general license to the rwanda deployment despite sanctioning the rdf, rwanda is not compliant so there are other actors that have the benefit of a burden sharing role to improve the
▶ 1:53:28Mr. Checker: Security situation in cabo jill gato -- del gado.
▶ 1:53:33Sen. Cruz: Ms. jacobsen, address what Mr. checker mention, major projects from companies like exxon mobil and how they have been disrupted by isis mozambique and what we should be doing about it.
▶ 1:53:50Ms. Jacobsen: In mozambique there is an important opportunity further counterterrorism udo and the department writ large support billions of dollars in U.S. investments that ensure U.S. security and critical mineral access are secured well addressing the terrorist threat.
▶ 1:54:16Ms. Jacobsen: To that end the counterterrorism bureau is having -- strengthening law enforcement ability to safeguard infrastructure where commercial interests in the energy sector are under threat. Let me give you an example. We have programming that will be time bound and advance U.S.
▶ 1:54:39Ms. Jacobsen: Interest by protecting critical infrastructure at liquefied natural gas facilities in graphite mine speared resources that are central to U.S. energy security. We will focus on protecting the critical routes and enhancing security around the liquefied natural gas facilities rather than training entire units. Ultimately that targeted approach will deliver tangible benefits for U.S.
▶ 1:55:05Ms. Jacobsen: Businesses operating in mozambique without committing the U.S. to long-term capacity building. I also would note the isis mozambique threat is also attacking christians in this space. We are very seized of not just bolstering the U.S.
▶ 1:55:23Ms. Jacobsen: Security interest in the space but ensuring as we mentioned before that the president and secretary are committed on protecting religious liberty, bolstering capacity in this space for the mozambique government to address this threat will help address the threat faced by christians in mozambique.
▶ 1:55:43Sen. Cruz: Thank you for that and I will note in response to something senator booker said a while ago when he asked why the focus on christians being subject to mass murder in nigeria when the jihadis are also killing muslims. There is no doubt the jihadists are also killing muslims and that is wrong and on his -- unacceptable and I have spoken out against it many times. The focus on christians is because they are systematically persecuted for their faith.
▶ 1:56:15Sen. Cruz: 20,000's churches and schools burned to the ground, 50,000 christians murdered. They are being killed because they are christian and that makes it qualitatively different. When it comes to persecution of muslims, I've spent many years, the better part of a decade, calling out the chinese communist government for its persecution of the muslim uighur s and you have over one million muslim uighurs in a concentration camp.
▶ 1:56:43Sen. Cruz: The biden white house flowed millions of dollars to china that went to pay for modern-day slavery, a modern-day concentration camp of muslim uighurs. When I forced a vote on the senate floor to cut off the funding of modern-day slavery, virtually every democrat in the senate, all but one, voted against me and voted to continue sending millions of dollars that went directly to the persecution of muslims.
▶ 1:57:11Sen. Cruz: I think we should stand up and speak out against mass murder, against slavery, against people in persecution regardless of where it occurs. But what is happening in nigeria specifically targeting christians is wrong and I'm grateful to president trump for standing up against it. I want to thank the witnesses for your important testimony today. Senators have until close of business wednesday april 22 to submit questions for the record. That concludes today's hearing.
▶ 1:57:40Sen. Cruz: [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]