Key Takeaways
- •The administration detailed a strategic shift toward "flexible realism," prioritizing targeted, interest-driven security partnerships over open-ended aid to counter the center of gravity for global terrorism in Africa.
- •Nick Checker (Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of African Affairs) testified that the U.S. is resetting relations to prioritize trade, critical mineral security, and pragmatic engagement with Sahelian governments.
- •Sen. Cruz (R-TX) pressed Checker on the mass murder of Christians in Nigeria, while Sen. Booker (D-NJ) criticized the administration for leaving 36 ambassadorial posts vacant across Africa.
- •Republicans focused on countering Iranian and Chinese influence through military and commercial diplomacy, whereas Democrats argued that cutting humanitarian and stabilization funding undermines long-term security and American credibility.
- •The subcommittee will monitor the potential designation of the global Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization and the impact of targeted security assistance for energy projects in Mozambique.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing examined the United States' strategic shift in counterterrorism (CT) policy across the African continent, focusing on the transition from long-term nation-building and aid-centric models to a doctrine of "flexible realism." The discussion highlighted the growing "center of gravity" for global terrorism in regions such as the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, and the Horn of Africa, where affiliates of ISIS and Al-Qaeda are expanding. Lawmakers and witnesses debated the effectiveness of the Trump administration’s "trade not aid" approach, the impact of significant budget cuts to development programs, and the geopolitical implications of competing with China and Russia for influence and access to critical minerals.
Key Testimony & Policy
The witnesses, Nick Checker of the Bureau of African Affairs and Monica Jacobsen of the Bureau of Counterterrorism, articulated a policy reset that prioritizes U.S. commercial interests and homeland security over open-ended humanitarian or stabilization commitments. Checker emphasized that the administration is moving away from "capacity building for capacity building’s sake," instead focusing on "interest-driven" partnerships. A central pillar of this strategy is the "trade not aid" model, which seeks to replace traditional foreign assistance with commercial diplomacy, exemplified by the Lobito Corridor infrastructure project in Angola and efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to counter Chinese monopolies.
Jacobsen detailed the technical tools being deployed to protect the homeland, including the Personal Identification Security Comparison and Evaluation Systems (PISCES) used in 15 African nations to enhance border security. She also highlighted targeted security assistance in Mozambique, where the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) approved a $5 billion loan for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Cabo Delgado. This assistance is specifically designed to protect U.S. investments from ISIS-Mozambique without committing to long-term military engagements. Furthermore, the administration discussed the recent designation of the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and the use of the Global Fragility Act to address instability in littoral states.
The hearing also addressed the mass murder of Christians in Nigeria. Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) discussed his "Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act," which seeks to return Nigeria to the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list and sanction officials complicit in religious persecution. Witnesses confirmed that while the Nigerian government has made some progress, including the recruitment of 50,000 additional troops, the systematic targeting of religious minorities by ISIS West Africa and Boko Haram remains a critical concern.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
The hearing featured sharp partisan disagreements regarding the administration's "peripheral" view of Africa. Ranking Member Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) criticized a leaked email from Checker which stated that Africa is "peripheral rather than a core theater." Booker argued that cutting USAID programs and leaving 36 ambassadorships vacant creates a vacuum for China and Russia to fill. He characterized the administration's approach as a "whack-a-mole" policy that relies too heavily on military airstrikes in Somalia while gutting the diplomatic and developmental architecture necessary for long-term stability.
Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-DE) challenged the witnesses on the "chaos" caused by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, noting that thousands of staff were laid off and vital programs were canceled. He argued that these cuts undermined the Global Fragility Act, a bipartisan law intended to prevent state failure. Conversely, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) supported the shift toward self-sufficiency and market-based reforms, praising the administration for treating African nations as "capable commercial partners" rather than aid dependents.
Another significant exchange involved Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Checker regarding Mali. Shaheen questioned the decision to delist sanctions on Malian officials in exchange for overflight access to search for kidnapped American Kevin Rideout. She expressed frustration that the U.S. had not yet received the necessary clearances despite the diplomatic concessions. Chairman Cruz also pushed for the formal recognition of Somaliland, arguing that it is a stable, democratic partner that could serve as a strategic maritime bulwark against Chinese expansion.
Organizations Mentioned
* **Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS):** Discussed as a primary threat across the Sahel, Nigeria, and Mozambique, with specific focus on its ability to disrupt international energy investments. * **Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT):** Represented by witness Monica Jacobsen, this bureau manages the PISCES border security program and targeted security assistance for infrastructure protection. * **United States Agency for International Development (USAID):** Criticized by the majority for "aid-centric" failures but defended by the minority as a vital tool for conflict prevention and humanitarian relief. * **People's Republic of China (China):** Identified as a strategic competitor that dominates the critical mineral sector; the administration seeks to "dislodge" Chinese monopolies through commercial diplomacy. * **Rapid Support Forces (RSF):** Discussed in the context of the Sudanese civil war; the administration is considering designating the group as an FTO due to alleged genocide and external support from the UAE. * **Muslim Brotherhood:** Recently designated chapters in Sudan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan were discussed as part of a broader effort to counter Islamist extremism and Iranian influence. * **United States Africa Command (AFRICOM):** Mentioned regarding military exercises in the region and the strategic assessment of Berbera Port in Somaliland. * **Wagner Group (Africa Corps):** Noted for its destabilizing presence in Mali and its role as a Russian proxy providing security to military juntas.
What's Next
The committee requested several follow-up actions, including a classified briefing on the potential cooperation between the Polisario Front and Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah. Witnesses were also asked to provide a formal assessment of whether designating the RSF as an FTO would effectively help end the conflict in Sudan. Additionally, the administration is expected to provide a comprehensive review of the impact of recent "DOGE" budget cuts on counterterrorism and judicial strengthening programs. Lawmakers will continue to monitor the status of kidnapped American Kevin Rideout and the potential for formal diplomatic recognition of Somaliland.
Transcript
The committee is called to order. Good afternoon. Thank you all 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. The extremism and violence they generated created a symbiotic relationship with Sunni terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda. Today, the center of gravity for global terrorism has shifted to Africa. 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 Sahel, in West Africa, and in East Africa, terrorist groups are expanding, embedding, and operating with increasing capability. ISIS affiliates and Al-Qaeda-linked groups are growing, controlling territory, and exploiting weak governance. In Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, JNIM, and Islamic State in the Sahel have all expanded. In Nigeria, Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa, and Fulani extremists are mass slaughtering Christians. 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. In Mozambique, an Islamic State-aligned insurgency has shown that even localized militant violence can jeopardize major international energy investments and broader regional stability. In region after region, terrorist groups are outpacing the ability of local governments to respond. The failures threaten our interests globally and endanger the American homeland. The threat is rapidly growing and demands attention. For too long, however, Africa was treated as a theater where we didn't have interests. Presidential administrations either ignored it or used it as a playground for self-indulgent ideological experiments. The latter problem was particularly acute during the previous administration. That mismatch allowed terrorist groups to expand and global adversaries, in particular Russia, China, and Iran, to intervene and undermine American interests. Those dynamics now threaten U.S. 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. Nick Checker, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of African Affairs, and Ms. Monica Jacobson, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Counterterrorism, as they both testify on this important issue. With that, I now recognize Ranking Member Booker for his opening remarks.
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