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Foreign Policy Africa
Security
In recent years, more and more observers have noted Africa’s failing states, ungoverned spaces and pirate-infested waters, and the real and possible threats they pose to U.S. national security. I have long raised these concerns, especially the threats posed by the terrorist group al Shebaab in Somalia, and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in the Sahel region. The United States needs to develop long-term counterterrorism strategies to address these threats, while building sustainable partnerships with Africans to advance our shared security.
I have also called for the United States to strengthen our civilian capacity on the continent to meet the challenges of today and identify the challenges of tomorrow. In April 2009, I chaired a hearing entitled, "Strengthening U.S. Diplomatic Capacity to Anticipate, Prevent and Respond to Conflict." We must expand our diplomatic presence in Africa, including outside of capitals, so we can increase our ability to learn about the continent – its governments, its peoples and its cultures. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I have pushed for our intelligence community to devote more resources to neglected regions of the world, especially in Africa. Collecting better intelligence is one of the best ways to head off emerging threats and strengthen our security. |
