WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave the following opening remarks at a full committee hearing titled “East Africa & The Horn: At A Turning Point or Breaking Point?” Witnesses included Mr. Joshua Meservey, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, and Ms. Michelle Gavin, senior fellow at Council on Foreign Relations.
Chairman Risch gave the following remarks:
“All of us here know that the United States has clear national security and economic interests in the East and Horn of Africa region. The region borders key maritime trade routes through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and hosts a significant U.S. military presence at our base in Djibouti. The U.S. also conducts robust counterterrorism operations – largely focused on Somalia – in partnership with Kenya and others in the region.
“But in recent years, violent conflicts in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia have destabilized the region. These conflicts provide fertile ground for violent extremist groups like Al-Shabaab, ISIS, and the Houthis. They enable malign actors like China, Iran, and Russia, and devastate local populations and U.S. national security alike.
“Sudan, in particular, is a crisis too few Americans recognize as the world’s deadliest ongoing conflict. The Sudanese people are enduring atrocities on a staggering scale: genocide in Darfur, mass displacement, and famine across multiple regions. Sudan is a hotbed of instability—and a direct threat to U.S. national security interests. There are no good options or easy outcomes—but that only heightens the need for U.S. attention and leadership.
“Over the last 4 years the U.S. reactions to this crisis and the many others on the continent were fragmented, reactive, and ineffective.
“President Trump and his Administration have already acted to better protect U.S. national security in the region. In President Trump’s first term, his Administration engaged in talks with Kenya over a potential free trade agreement – a first for sub-Saharan Africa. And now, Secretary Rubio and other senior officials have ramped up engagement and confronted threats from al-Shabaab and the Islamic State head-on. But these efforts cannot be siloed. They must be part of a broad strategic effort to protect American interests in Africa while also protecting the U.S. taxpayer’s pocketbook.
“That means being clear-eyed about our potential and existing partners in the region. In many cases, these governments are not wholly legitimate, which raises the question of whether engagement is worth the cost.
“Take, for example, South Sudan. Its government exists based on a peace agreement that its signatories routinely violate. The U.S. played a central role in the country’s creation, a legacy that has carried a financial cost well above $10 billion in assistance since independence in 2011. Yet the returns on this investment, in terms of securing sustainable peace and a functional state, are marginal at best, and arguably diminishing.
“Additionally, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda each face serious domestic challenges that severely limit what U.S. investment can do. This fact demands our restraint. Many African nations maintain troubling ties with China—including key national security partners.
“Just last month, President Ruto declared that Kenya, a major non-NATO ally, and China are “co-architects of a new world order.” That’s not just alignment to China; it’s allegiance. I submit for the record the text of that speech. Relying on leaders who embrace Beijing so openly is an error. It’s time to reassess our relationship with Kenya and others who forge tight bonds with China.
“Still, there are countries where meaningful engagement is possible—but only with sober judgment and clear-eyed realism. We must stop building U.S. policy in Africa around individual leaders and instead focus on strengthening institutions, expanding private sector ties, and empowering the region’s young and dynamic populations.
“We hold this hearing at a moment of profound urgency—but also real opportunity. By tailoring our strategy and spending to align with the potential of our partners in the region, we can build stronger partnerships that serve both Africa and U.S. national interests— ultimately making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
“I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today, and with that I turn it over to our distinguished ranking member, Senator Shaheen.”
These remarks have been lightly edited for clarity. Witness testimony is available on foreign.senate.gov.
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