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'Fighting Terrorism in Africa' - Statement of Chairman Royce

United States House Of Representatives (Washington, DC)
DOCUMENT
April 1, 2004
Posted to the web April 1, 2004

The following is the opening statement of Africa Subcommittee Chairman Ed Royce
(R-CA-40) at this afternoon's hearing on terrorism in Africa:
"At a hearing the Subcommittee held on terrorism in Africa, two months after
September 11th, I said, 'Africa must be placed in the U.S.'s strategic
spotlight.' Other Subcommittee Members expressed similar sentiments. We're
getting there, I believe.
"Last May, the head of the U.S. European Command, General James Jones, said, 'I
think Africa is a continent that is going to be of very, very significant
interest in the 21st century.' EUCOM now spends more and more time focused on
Africa. Earlier this month, it assisted Chad in successfully hunting down
Algeria-based Islamic militants with ties to al Qaeda. The Administration has
launched several anti-terrorism initiatives in the last few years. This
includes the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, based in Djibouti, which
now has approximately 1,800 personnel countering terrorism.
"Much of Africa, unfortunately, is hospitable ground to terrorist groups, as
the continent has vast and remote areas, with far too many weak governments and
security services. For the past two decades, Wahabist charities have supported
a growing number of madrassas throughout Africa. This mostly Gulf State-
sponsored activity, unfortunately, is often aimed at radicalizing Islam in
Africa. Several Moroccans and a Tunisian are believed to have been involved in
the recent Madrid bombing. Africa, indeed, with resource-strapped governments
unable to effectively control their territories, has been described as the
'soft underbelly' in the war on terror.
"Africa faces enough challenges without the emerging terrorist threat. At the
hearing I mentioned, concerns were expressed that resources to tackle HIV/AIDS
and economic development would be shortchanged. The Administration and
Congress, I believe, have allayed these concerns with a historic HIV/AIDS
commitment and the Millennium Challenge Account.
"A good antiterrorism strategy requires a multi-track approach - with military,
diplomatic, and financial tactics. We need more resources devoted to these
pursuits in Africa, including intelligence. We significantly trimmed our
diplomatic presence and intelligence capabilities in Africa post-cold war.
Embassies and consulates were shuttered. This left us short of valuable
intelligence about the continent. One of today's witnesses has reported on al
Qaeda activities in West Africa, where Charles Taylor and President Blaise
Campaore of Burkino Faso reportedly profited from al Qaeda's trade in diamonds.
I don't think this activity was properly registered.
"U.S. officials have reported generally good cooperation in fighting terrorism
from African governments. Looking ahead, we need to be sensitive to the fact
that this is Africa's fight every bit as much as ours. The Revolutionary United
Front -- under the sponsorship of Libya's Muammar Qaddafi and then - Liberian
President Charles Taylor -- used terror in an attempt to seize power in Sierra
Leone. The Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda is terrorizing civilians. The
spread of militant Islam provides an increasing number of African recruits for
international terrorist groups; but it also undermines social harmony and
undercuts the development of stable African governments by pushing aside the
traditionally tolerant Islam of Africa. It's our interest to help combat these
brutal attacks.
"The Administration reports that Sudan and Libya, designated state sponsors of
terrorism, have moved away from supporting terrorism. Needless to say, this
bears constant watching. Sudan's government is backing militant forces that are
carrying out gross human rights abuses, essentially terrorizing, civilians in
the Darfur region."

   

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