    [House Hearing, 117 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                              ASSESSING THE BIDEN
            ADMINISTRATIONS U.S. STRATEGY TOWARD SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 SECOND SESSION

                                   __________

                               NOVEMBER 17, 2022

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 117-138

                                   __________

            Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

           Available:  http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/, http://
                                docs.house.gov,
                           or http://www.govinfo.gov

                                 _________

                     U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

    51-549 PDF               WASHINGTON : 2023

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                      GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York, Chairman

    BRAD SHERMAN, California             MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas, Ranking
    ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey                  Member
    GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
    THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida
    KAREN BASS, California
    WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts
    DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island
    AMI BERA, California
    JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas
    DINA TITUS, Nevada
    TED LIEU, California
    SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania
    DEAN PHILLIPS, Minnesota
    ILHAN OMAR, Minnesota
    COLIN ALLRED, Texas
    ANDY LEVIN, Michigan
    ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, Virginia
    CHRISSY HOULAHAN, Pennsylvania
    TOM MALINOWSKI, New Jersey
    ANDY KIM, New Jersey
    SARA JACOBS, California
    KATHY MANNING, North Carolina
    JIM COSTA, California
    JUAN VARGAS, California
    VICENTE GONZALEZ, Texas
    BRAD SCHNEIDER, Illinois

                                         CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey
                                         STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
                                         JOE WILSON, South Carolina
                                         SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania
                                         DARRELL ISSA, California
                                         ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois
                                         LEE ZELDIN, New York
                                         ANN WAGNER, Missouri
                                         BRIAN MAST, Florida
                                         BRIAN FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania
                                         KEN BUCK, Colorado
                                         TIM BURCHETT, Tennessee
                                         MARK GREEN, Tennessee
                                         ANDY BARR, Kentucky
                                         GREG STEUBE, Florida
                                         DAN MEUSER, Pennsylvania
                                         CLAUDIA TENNEY, New York
                                         AUGUST PFLUGER, Texas
                                         PETER MEIJER, Michigan
                                         NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS, New York
                                         RONNY JACKSON, Texas
                                         YOUNG KIM, California
                                         MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR, Florida

                        Sophia Lafargue, Staff Director

                   Brendan Shields, Republican Staff Director

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page

                                   WITNESSES

    Phee, Honorable Molly, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of
      African Affairs, U.S. Department of State......................    10
    Muyangwa, Honorable Monde, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau
      for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development..........    16

                                    APPENDIX

    Hearing Notice...................................................    54
    Hearing Minutes..................................................    55
    Hearing Attendance...............................................    56

                RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

    Responses to questions submitted for the record..................    57

                      ASSESSING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS
                    U.S. STRATEGY TOWARD SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

                          Thursday, November 17, 2022

                              House of Representatives,
                          Committee on Foreign Affairs,
                                                        Washington, DC.

        The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:27 a.m., in
    room HVC-210, The Capitol, Hon. Gregory W. Meeks (chairman of
    the committee) presiding.
        Chairman Meeks. The Committee on Foreign Affairs will come
    to order.
        And, without objection, the chair is authorized to declare
    a recess of the committee at any point.
        And all members will have 5 days to submit statements,
    extraneous material, and questions for the record, subject to
    the length limitations in the rule. To insert something into
    the record, please have your staff email the previously
    mentioned address or contact for committee staff.
        As a reminder to members, please keep your video function
    on at all times, even when you are not recognized by the chair.
        Members are responsible for muting and unmuting themselves.
    And consistent with House rules, staff will only mute members
    as appropriate when they are not under recognition, to
    eliminate background noise.
        I see that we have a quorum, and I now recognize myself for
    opening remarks.
        Before, though, we begin the hearing, I want to recognize
    our newest member to the committee, and that is Congresswoman
    Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, from the great State of Florida.
        We welcome you to this committee and look forward to
    working together with you. Congratulations. It is good to have
    you.
        Pursuant to notice, the full committee meets today to
    discuss the United States' Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa.
    And so let me start by thanking Assistant Secretary of State
    for African Affairs, Molly Phee, and USAID's Assistant
    Administrator for Africa, Monde Muyangwa, for appearing before
    our committee today.
        Just a few months ago, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken
    traveled to South Africa to announce a renewed American
    approach to Sub-Saharan Africa that reframes the region's
    importance to the United States' national security interests.
        And I want to get into the substance of the strategy in a
    moment, but I think it is important to discuss why this
    reframing is necessary in the first place. For far too long,
    perceptions of Africa have been shaped by outdated and
    uninformed depictions of a region in constant crisis. And
    roughly 4 years of disparaging comments and misguided policies
    of the previous Administration set relations with many of our
    African partners back decades.
        To get back on the right track with our African partners, a
    serious and critical course correction was required, and that
    is why I applaud the Biden Administration for developing a bold
    and ambitious U.S. strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa.
        Many observers agree that Africa, the second most populous
    region in the world, will shape the future. By 2050, 1 out of
    every 4 people on the globe will be African. African nations
    comprise nearly 30 percent of the United Nations. The U.N.
    estimates that there are roughly 650 million cell phone users
    in Africa, more than in the United States or Europe. When it
    comes to critical minerals and other resources, it is hard to
    overState how important this region is to the global effort to
    modernize our economies and combat climate change.
        Once the African Continental Free Trade Area is fully
    implemented, Africa stands to become the fifth largest economy
    in the world. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that
    foreign partners in the private sector and public sectors alike
    continue to expand their engagement with their presence in
    Africa. And while opportunities in Africa abound, we must be
    clear-eyed about the challenges that negatively affect
    stability and undermine economic growth.
        When I meet with African leaders from across the continent,
    common themes emerge and continue to resonate with me. African
    people of all backgrounds and income levels favor democracy and
    strongly prefer America's democratic values, yet we continue to
    see governments in parts of Africa give way to autocratic and
    anti-democratic movements.
        Africa has experienced more coups than any other region
    since 1950, with recent trends heading in the wrong direction.
    So we need to take the opportunity the strategy provides to
    acknowledge the governance challenges facing the region and
    identify what actions State and USAID should undertake to
    fortify democracy in Africa.
        The demand signal for democracy is clear. We must step up
    to meet the moment. The United States is in a prime position to
    redouble efforts to strengthen democracy, support good
    governance, and address the conditions associated with
    democratic backsliding, like endemic poverty and human rights
    abuses.
        I have always been a strong proponent of engaging our
    African partners with an emphasis on equity and agency,
    ensuring African stakeholders have a seat at the table and lead
    the change we all want to see in many parts of the continent.
        What I find most promising about the Administration's
    strategy is that it outlines a clear and modern approach to
    enhancing our engagement in Africa and it rightly calls for
    leveraging the private sector and the African diaspora,
    bolstering civil society, supporting sustainable development,
    including through support for an equitable energy transition,
    strengthening trade and investment, and driving digital
    transformation on the continent.
        What will be key for this discussion is how, how are the
    State Department and USAID deploying their tools and resources
    to make this strategy successful; what resources are required
    to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives in Africa; and how
    can Congress be most helpful in this effort.
        So I look forward to the answers to these questions and the
    discussion that follows.
        And I now will recognize Mr. McCaul for his opening
    statement.
        Mr. McCaul. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to our new
    committee room. I told the chairman, I think I'm cursed. When I
    chaired Homeland Security Committee, I got moved out of the
    beautiful committee room to here, but it is nice and it is
    close to votes, but it is great to see all of you back here
    again. And let me say, first, Africa, that--let me thank the
    witnesses too.
        Ensuring strong engagement with our African partners has
    been a bipartisan priority, and for over two decades, both
    Republicans and Democratic Administrations, the U.S. has
    partnered with African nations to address key challenges.
        Next year will be the 20th anniversary of President Bush's
    launch of PEPFAR, which as I talk to leaders in Africa say,
    saved a generation from extinction. I look forward to ensuring
    that this important work continues in the next Congress and
    being reauthorized.
        The U.S. has a legacy of investment of which to be proud.
    In the last year, the United States provided over a billion
    COVID vaccines to African countries and funding to address
    unprecedented levels of food insecurity and famine in the Horn
    of Africa. But we need to also think long-term about our
    investments.
        And while the U.S. offers partnership, the PRC and Russia
    seek to leverage their offers of financing and security
    guarantees for their own political, economic, and security
    priorities. A perfect example of this is the CCP's debt-trap
    diplomacy through their Belt and Road Initiative. And,
    Secretary, you and I talked about this, and if we are not on
    the field, Mr. Chairman, you cannot win, if you are not on the
    field. And we need to get on field.
        And, again, when I meet with our partners and allies all
    over the world, they do ask--and ask why they are entering into
    these dangerous agreements with China, they tell me, again,
    because we are not there. And we need to be there. We cannot
    allow the CCP and Russia to exert their malign influence over
    the continent.
        Promoting two-way trade and investment with African nations
    and creating economic opportunity must be a top priority. And
    that is why I am proud that my bill, the Championing American
    Business Through Diplomacy Act, was signed into law.
        Earlier this year, I introduced legislation that codified
    the Prosper Africa initiative, and I want to thank Chairman
    Meeks for his cosponsorship and helping us get that marked up.
    This effort coordinates the various tools of the U.S.
    Government to speak with one voice and support U.S. companies
    looking to invest in Africa.
        I have some concerns, Secretary, as you and I talked about,
    about the Development Finance Corporation, that I worked very
    hard and many members on this committee did, to get private
    investment. I believe this Administration was putting a lot of
    restrictions on that investment as it has to be certain types
    of energy and has to have all sorts of restrictions. And I have
    heard from the private sector that this has really stalled our
    ability to have that private investment.
        I think that with the invasion of Ukraine by Putin and the
    world's rush to secure oil and gas from alternative regions
    reveals that we cannot really keep the DFC hamstrung from
    investing in traditional energy. It can only be green. We were
    in Romania. They wanted to have these small modular nuclear
    reactors, Madam Secretary, and we were told the Development
    Finance Corporation would not finance that because it was not,
    quote/unquote, green energy. However, nuclear power has zero
    carbon emissions, and even the EU Parliament voted that nuclear
    is green energy.
        So I think that is an issue on energy we need to focus on.
    We still have the counterterrorism issues there that I dealt
    with when I chaired Homeland--ISIS, al-Qaeda. Now, anytime you
    have instability, poverty, you have these terror groups. Al
    Shabaab, well financed; ISIS affiliates are active in over 20
    African countries, and they are growing.
        Passing the Global Fragility Act was an important step to
    stabilize Africa through a whole-of-government approach. Back
    then it was Chairman Engel and Senator Graham and Coons and
    myself.
        So I really look forward to hearing about the
    implementation of that as well, Madam Chair--Secretary, toward
    implementation in West Africa and Mozambique.
        So proud that the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership
    Act, which was stalled by the Senate last Congress, was enacted
    earlier this year to improve U.S. response to terror threats in
    the Sahel.
        So we have many challenges, a lot of work to do. It is time
    to roll up our sleeves and get things done, and I thank both of
    you for being here today.
        I yield back.
        Chairman Meeks. I thank the gentleman.
        I will now recognize for 1 minute--the title is still the
    chair of the Africa Subcommittee, it soon will be the mayor of
    the city of Los Angeles. The Honorable Karen Bass is now
    recognized for 1 minute. Congratulations.
        Ms. Bass. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, for
    convening this hearing and for the opportunity to speak on the
    importance of President Biden's Africa STRATEGY.
        As noted in the Biden Administration's Africa strategy, it
    is impossible to meet this era's declining challenges without
    African contributions and leaderships. The strategy is a much
    needed effort to, quote, recast traditional U.S. policy
    priorities--democracy and governance, peace and security, trade
    and investment and development--as pathways to bolster the
    region's ability to solve global problems alongside the U.S.
        Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to shift the
    paradigm from seeing Africa as a continent that is defined by
    crisis, conflict, poverty, and corruption, to engaging Africa
    as a continent with immense opportunities for robust and
    mutually beneficial partnerships. I have led several
    delegations to the continent with Members of Congress, and
    every time they come back, they are always amazed at the
    richness of the continent.
        But let me just conclude by thanking you. I know that this
    will probably be my last hearing. And the most difficult part
    of my decision to leave Congress was really because of the work
    of this committee.
        And so I look forward to elevating international affairs in
    an international city. And I just want to express my
    appreciation to our wonderful chairman and ranking member, soon
    to switch roles, and soon to be Chairman Chris Smith, for the
    partnership that we have had over the last 12 years, and all
    the members of this committee. So thank you for the opportunity
    to address you.
        Chairman Meeks. We thank you, Chairwoman-mayor, for your
    dedication, for surely this is the most appropriate last
    committee hearing that you attend because of your focus, your
    life-long focus, even before you became a Member of Congress,
    to the Continent of Africa.
        You have always been one that I depended upon and leaned on
    when it came to the continent, and your vision for the
    continent is absolutely, absolutely superb, and it leads to
    many of the things that has helped me as a Member of the House
    and as chair of this committee. And you will not escape,
    though, because I will still be calling the mayor of L.A. on
    various things, particularly as it regards the Continent of
    Africa.
        So thank you for your service to the U.S. Congress, and
    thank you for your service to this committee. We are deeply
    indebted to you. Thank you very much.
        Mr. McCaul. May I?
        Chairman Meeks. Yes.
        Mr. McCaul. And if I could echo that sentiment. Karen, it
    has been a joy to work with you. Your positive energy is
    infectious. And we have worked on many initiatives related to
    Africa together that have, I think, made a difference, and that
    is what it is all about really.
        I congratulate you on your new position as mayor of L.A.
    You may enjoy being an executive more than just one of 435. So
    we are going to miss you. I hope you come back to visit.
        I yield back.
        Ms. Bass. Thank you.
        Chairman Meeks. And I will yield to a person who has been a
    partner because, you know, oftentimes when I talked to
    Representative Bass, the next mayor, she always told me how she
    worked very well with Mr. Smith over the years. And so I
    recognize now Representative Chris Smith.
        Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
        Karen, we are going to miss you. It has been a great
    partnership for many years, a dozen years. We have traveled
    together. I remember very well we traveled to Ethiopia. You
    came all the way from L.A., and as things turned out, you went
    back right away. I do not think you slept for about 3 days. We
    had some very good meetings with the new prime minister,
    unfortunately then he disappointed, but now we have a peace
    agreement that hopefully will flourish.
        You are taking over what is the equivalent of a small
    country, 4 million people, and, you know, you have a lot of
    friends on both sides of the aisle, and it has always been a
    real joy to work with you. Our staffs have worked very closely
    together, and I think that is extremely important.
        So I am going to miss you, Karen, but do not be a stranger.
    Look forward to seeing you over and over again going forward.
        Chairman Meeks. Run that clock back to a minute. That is
    not his time.
        Mr. Smith. Oh, good. Thank you very much, Chairman.
        Just a couple of things I would like to raise as we meet.
    It is good to see Ambassador Molly Phee. I remember when we met
    in Sudan in the past--South Sudan, I should say--and I
    appreciate your work, and, of course, to the--Muyangwa,
    congratulations to you for your work.
        Just a couple of brief things because this is an important
    hearing, and I thank the chair for calling it.
        As the primary author of the Frank Wolf International
    Religious Freedom Act, I am a little concerned that in the
    strategy--and I, you know, have read it, read it carefully--
    that religious freedom is not there.
        And, you know, we have--I have, particularly in Nigeria and
    a number of other countries, whether it be Muslim on Muslim or
    Christian-Muslim fights, these issues have to be front and
    center and not in any way--we cannot look askance when
    Nigeria--and I disagree with the Administration when they got
    rid of CPC status for Nigeria. I think, you know, the country
    itself, particularly the Christians, there has been a spike in
    death to Christians that is because there are Christians in
    Nigeria. I hope that we can come back to redesignating--
    designating Buhari and his government as a CPC country, because
    they have not earned getting off that.
        On Nigeria and on DR Congo real quick, I chaired a meeting
    on July 14 of the Tom Lantos Commission, and we focused on the
    cobalt mining. And we had a number of unbelievably incisive
    witnesses, including two DR Congolese who told us how 35-to
    40,000--some estimates there--a little bit lower, but that is
    order of magnitude--children are in those mines getting cobalt,
    and who is running them? Chinese Communist Party. They are
    taking over because they want to have a monopoly on electric
    cars going forward. You know, if you want an electric car,
    great, but it shouldn't be on the backs of little children and
    people who are adults who are exploited as well.
        So I hope we can really, really raise that issue to the
    highest possible level. Hearing about how kids are dying,
    getting cancer working in the mines without any kind of
    protection whatsoever. So I am deeply concerned about that as
    well.
        And I thank you. I yield back. Thank you.
        Chairman Meeks. The gentleman yields back.
        I will now introduce our witnesses. Ambassador Molly Phee,
    she is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the
    rank of minister counselor, and has served as U.S. Assistant
    Secretary of State for African Affairs since last September,
    and most recently served as deputy special representative for
    Afghanistan Reconciliation.
        Her experience in African affairs include serving as U.S.
    Ambassador to South Sudan, deputy chief of mission in Ethiopia,
    and chief of staff--the special envoy for Sudan and South
    Sudan.
        Assistant Secretary Phee has extensive experience in U.N.
    engagement in Africa and the Middle East, and began her career
    at several Middle Eastern posts, including Jordan, Egypt, and
    Kuwait.
        Dr. Monde Muyangwa was appointed as Assistant Administrator
    for the Bureau of Africa in September, and has over 25 years of
    leadership experience on Africa and U.S.-African relations,
    including in the areas of development, gender, education,
    housing, health, and nutrition.
        She previously served as the director of the Africa Program
    of the Woodrow Wilson Center, academic dean at the Africa
    Center for Strategic Studies, and professor of civil-military
    relations at ACSS.
        She served on the board of trustees at Freedom House, the
    board of directors at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS
    Foundation, the International Advisory Council of
    Afrobarometer, and the Advisory Council in the Ibrahim Index of
    African Governance.
        So I want to thank our witnesses for being here today. And
    I now yield to Ambassador, the Honorable Molly Phee--Deputy
    Secretary, I should say.

    STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE MOLLY PHEE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
        THE BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

        Ms. Phee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member McCaul,
    Subcommittee Chair Bass, Subcommittee Ranking Member Smith, and
    distinguished members of the committee. Thank you for devoting
    your time today and to share your interest in Africa.
        As you know, the Africa strategy of the Biden-Harris
    Administration is based on a simple but important premise.
    Building a 21st century partnership with Africa is critical to
    meeting this era's defining challenges and achieving results on
    our shared global priorities.
        As Secretary Blinken has said, Africa is a geopolitical
    force that will shape the world's future. The continent is home
    to the fastest growing and youngest population in the world,
    enjoys breathtaking ecological diversity, and nurtures vibrant
    and historic cultures whose past is inseparably intertwined
    with our own.
        The strategy commits to elevating, broadening, and
    deepening our partnerships with diverse African audiences,
    including notably the diaspora. We will prioritize listening
    and acting on what we hear. Even when we have disagreements, we
    will seize the opportunity to engage and discuss.
        The Administration's National Security Strategy and the
    State Department-USAID Joint Regional Strategy for Africa
    recognize the profound transformation of the continent, capture
    the region's importance to U.S. national security interests,
    and identify how we will boost Africa's ability to maximize
    opportunities and counter challenges.
        The upcoming U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit is a prominent
    example of how we are putting this reframing into practice.
    President Biden also made this point at the U.N. when he
    announced U.S. support for permanent seats on the Security
    Council for countries in Africa.
        The strategy's first objective is to foster openness and
    open societies. Building on the hunger of African publics for
    foundational values--democracy, transparency, accountability,
    equity, inclusivity, rule of law, anticorruption, and religious
    freedom--we will support those who understand that
    incorporating these values into governance is the best path to
    unlock the potential and prosperity of individuals and
    societies.
        Choice is also central to our second objective, to deliver
    democratic and security dividends. Poor governance and abusive
    security forces render countries vulnerable to instability. We
    will direct U.S. programming to address the drivers of
    conflict, strengthen democratic institutions, and invest in the
    development of local security forces that are capable and
    accountable. Thanks to Congress, we now have an innovative new
    tool with the Global Fragility Act.
        Poor governance also affords space for malign actors such
    as the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group. We are engaging our African
    partners to counter Russia's malign influence. We are also
    working intentionally to present our African partners with
    alternatives to substandard Chinese practices while remaining
    open to collaboration when U.S., Chinese, and African interests
    align.
        Our third objective is to advance pandemic recovery and
    economic prosperity. We have provided millions of COVID-19
    doses and billions of dollars in COVID-related support. The
    additional resources provided by Congress for food security and
    humanitarian assistance have been invaluable in mitigating the
    compounding effects of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.
        We are committed to helping our African partners strengthen
    health systems for the next global health challenge, building
    on the foundation of decades of investment. One example, in
    recent weeks, the State Department has been a leader in the
    U.S. Government team, helping Uganda effectively respond to an
    Ebola outbreak.
        The strategy also includes plans to promote economic
    growth, especially job creation. We are working through
    multilateral banks, as well as U.S. Government programs you
    know well--the DFC, MCC, Prosper Africa, Power Africa, and Feed
    the Future. We need to do more and better in this space, and we
    look for your support and guidance as we seek to advance new
    initiatives such as PGII.
        Finally, in line with the fourth pillar, we will support
    conservation, climate adaptation, and a just energy transition.
    At COP 27 last week, President Biden announced more than $150
    million to accelerate the implementation of the President's
    emergency plan for adaptation and resilience across Africa.
    This funding will help address what African counterparts
    highlight as their most urgent need in responding to the
    climate crisis, especially facilitating access to finance for
    populations vulnerable to climate change.
        As we enter this decisive decade, we firmly believe that
    Africans should and must have a seat at the table. Our
    challenges are shared and so too should be our solutions. I
    look forward to addressing your questions.
        And, Mr. Chairman, if I might, I would like to speak on
    behalf of the State Department to honor and thank Congresswoman
    Bass for her leadership on Africa issues. I well remember when
    she and Congressman Smith visited me in Juba, a difficult place
    to be, and their engagement there, as it has been throughout
    the continent, has been so important. And if I might presume to
    speak on behalf of our African friends, I am sure they would
    want me to wish her congratulations and best wishes.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Phee follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
        Chairman Meeks. Thank you. And thank you for your remarks.
        I now recognize Assistant Administrator Muyangwa.

         STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE MONDE MUYANGWA, ASSISTANT
       ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE BUREAU FOR AFRICA, U.S. AGENCY FOR
                       INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

        Ms. Muyangwa. Thank you.
        Good morning, Chairman Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, and
    members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to
    discuss the new U.S. strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa and for
    your longstanding bipartisan commitment to the African
    continent.
        I arrived at USAID only a few weeks after the new strategy
    was launched. It comes at a crucial moment and underscores my
    long-held belief that the future of the United States and
    Africa are inextricably linked.
        The COVID-19 pandemic has erased years of development
    gains, and recent conflict has killed thousands and displaced
    millions more. Roughly 21 million people face starvation in the
    Horn of Africa, and we are also seeing the setbacks to
    democracy as well as a rise of malign actors.
        Yet the Africa that I know is also characterized by
    resilience, transformation, and promise. African nations hold
    significant political heft at international organizations, and
    the African Continental Free Trade Area has created the world's
    fifth largest economy. And despite democratic setbacks, African
    citizens are demanding governments that respect the rights and
    dignity of all people.
        The U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa recognizes both
    challenges and opportunities facing Africa and reflects its
    influence on the international stage. Let me walk through how
    USAID is aligned with the strategy and highlight our way
    forward.
        First, the strategy commits to promoting fair and open
    societies, and USAID will continue to strengthen transparency
    and accountability. And we are working with civil society
    partners to improve the information ecosystem, including
    training journalists and others to stop the spread of
    misinformation.
        We will help countries address challenges of digital
    infrastructure and increase gender equality and inclusion. We
    will also strengthen the rule of law and independent
    judiciaries to address corruption and safeguard individual
    rights.
        Second, the strategy recognizes the essential role that
    effective democracy and governance play in peace and security.
    So we will continue to promote democracy and good governance
    and collaborate with the Department of State and Defense and
    other international partners to advance peace and security in
    Africa and to support locally led peace-building efforts
    through the Global Fragility Act.
        Third, the strategy emphasizes the need to continue our
    response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the U.S. Government
    vaccine effort Global VAX, over 229 million vaccines have been
    delivered to Africa. Public-private partnerships and engagement
    with key regional organizations like the West Africa Health
    Organization will continue to be essential.
        And when it comes to expanding economic opportunity, the
    U.S. Government, through Prosper Africa, Power Africa, and
    other USAID programs, will continue to strengthen trade ties
    and improve the business-enabling environment. Both Prosper
    Africa and Power Africa have already yielded impressive
    results. Since Prosper Africa's launch, the U.S. Government has
    helped close 800 trade and investment deals across 45 African
    countries, for an estimated value of $50 billion. Power Africa
    has connected more than 33 million homes and businesses to on-
    and off-grid solutions, bringing first-time electricity to over
    159 million people across the country.
        Feed the Future has expanded to eight new African countries
    and continues to strengthen food systems across the continent.
        The Young African Leaders Initiative has trained more than
    22,000 youth, who bring innovation, creative energy, and
    opportunity to civil society and economies across Africa.
        Fourth, the strategy recognizes the need for climate
    adaptation, conservation, and the restoration of ecosystems and
    natural resources. USAID will expand engagement on climate
    change issues, especially adaptation, and build on our work in
    conservation and biodiversity. The U.S. Government recently
    renewed its longstanding commitment to the protection,
    conservation, and sustainable management of the Congo Basin.
        Power Africa will work closely with countries to diversify
    energy sources, advance the use of renewable energy, and
    increase the efficiency of existing systems while balancing gas
    to power infrastructure to help advance energy security.
        As you can see, USAID programs are well positioned to
    support the objectives in the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan
    Africa. Yet it will not be business as usual. We must step up
    our engagement with African partners, diversify the breadth of
    countries that we work with, and engage with medium and small
    States to advance shared priorities, including the Africa
    Union's Agenda 2063.
        I am deeply committed to USAID's mission and to advancing
    the U.S. strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa. I thank you for
    your continued support of USAID's work, and I welcome your
    questions.
        As I conclude, I too would like to join Assistant Secretary
    Molly Phee in thanking Congressmember Bass for her work to
    advance and support U.S.-Africa relations, and we wish you well
    in your new job.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Muyangwa follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairman Meeks. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.
        Thank you both for your testimony.
        I will now recognize members for 5 minutes each pursuant to
    House rules, and all time yielded is for the purposes of
    questioning our witnesses. And I will recognize members by
    committee seniority, alternating between Democrats and
    Republicans.
        And please note that I am going to be somewhat strict in
    enforcing the 5-minute time limitation for questioning,
    including with myself. But I will start by recognizing myself.
        Let me say ask this question. You know, the strategy that
    the Administration will redouble its efforts to ensure it has
    sufficient human and financial resources to plan, organize, and
    execute. Now, I want to make sure so I address this question to
    both of you. What deficits do you see in your staffing or
    funding in order to achieve the strategy's objectives, and what
    can we do to fill those gaps here in Congress? And also, how
    will the State Department and USAID ensure that--something that
    I have been on--that recruitment, retention, and incentives in
    your respective African bureaus are sufficient to meet the
    strategy's objectives?
        Ms. Phee. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to thank you
    for your attention to this issue, because to realize our
    ambitious goals, we do need resources.
        As you know, the State Department has a deficit of
    personnel related to decisions that were taken in the past
    Administration. This Administration asked for and received
    funding for 500 new positions, but we still have a challenge in
    meeting, particularly at the mid-level grade, filling our
    positions.
        So the Administration, and under Secretary Blinken's
    leadership, is working very hard on both recruitment and
    retention. He has, as you know, appointed a diversity officer
    to address that aspect of recruitment and retention. So we
    continue to focus on building up the State Department core so
    that we can staff our embassies and staff the Bureau.
        Second, on resources, Congress is very generous with
    resources for health. There is a lot of money earmarked for
    health, also education. I think we would benefit from more
    resources in the democracy area. That would help us address the
    issues of backsliding that you identified in your opening
    statement.
        Thank you.
        Ms. Muyangwa. Thank you, Chairman Meeks, for that question.
    We have had several thousand positions, I think, that have been
    approved for the agency, and we are in the process of
    recruiting for those positions. That is going to take a while,
    but those efforts are definitely underway. We are also looking
    at ensuring that, as we recruit, issues of diversity, equity,
    and inclusion are well reflected because that strengthens the
    outcomes of the work that we are doing.
        And as the assistant secretary mentioned, and as you have
    all mentioned in your remarks, the question of democracy and
    democratic backsliding on the continent is critical. And so we
    are looking at ways of how we can bring more resources, energy
    to really attacking those issues, to arrest democratic
    backsliding.
        And so we are going to continue to look for your continued
    advocacy on those issues and as we work through how best to
    arrest this democratic backsliding on the continent.
        Chairman Meeks. So one of the things that has always--you
    know, that has interested me, because there are, you know,
    different things that are taking place on different parts of
    the continent. But private sector, it seems to me, when you
    look at the future, you know, as we talked about it--I talked
    about it in my opening statements and Secretary Phee also--it
    is there. And sometimes the risk factors--and I think that it
    has been somewhat outdated, some of the risk factors.
        So can you tell us what roles that State and USAID should
    and/or could play in educating the private sector on the
    opportunities that exist on the continent and as far as also
    the perception of risk as we get ready to get into the summit?
        All the African leaders I talked to say they want
    investment, they need private sector investment to help them
    grow their economies, to make a difference. And we see others
    who are in there, other governments, like China, who is not
    doing the right thing in that regards, but because of the
    vacuum, they are able to--can you give us a response to that?
        Ms. Phee. Sure. I think it is clear that through the
    discussions that have taken place at the G7, that there is a
    general recognition that we all need to do more, our like-
    minded partners, on trade and investment in Africa. And there
    will be a day devoted, an Africa Business Forum, during the
    leaders summit, where we hope to create real opportunities for
    American companies to engage African leaders.
        And we also need to continue to remind African leaders that
    they need to take steps to create, what the jargon is, an
    enabling environment to attract that private investment.
        I think the area where we see a lot of engagement now that
    is new is the climate area. As you just learned when you were
    in Sharm el-Sheikh, and as the ranking member and I discussed,
    there is a lot of interest in our private sector, also in our
    philanthropic community, to try and match U.S. Government
    investment in that space. So I think that is a growth area for
    us moving forward in the future.
        And last, I would mention the Africa Free--the Continental
    Free Trade Area. As we look toward AGOA expiration or renewal
    in 2025, I think there might be some opportunities to link our
    engagement on trade preferences with the building of that free
    trade area that benefits both Africans and Americans.
        Thank you.
        Chairman Meeks. Thank you. My time is expired.
        I now yield to Mr. McCaul.
        Mr. McCaul. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Let me first, Secretary, just ask you about the Ethiopia
    peace agreement that was signed. Can you give us an update as
    to whether that is effective and how is it being implemented?
        And as I understand it, we still cannot get the
    humanitarian aid into Tigray at the scale necessary.
        Ms. Phee. We are very pleased with the outcome of the AU-
    led efforts first on November 2 in Pretoria, where a cessation
    of hostilities agreement was agreed, and we have seen that take
    effect, and then of followup discussions in Nairobi on the
    implementation of the agreement on November 12.
        We are very lucky to have the leadership of Kenya and South
    Africa and the African Union to help the parties. As you know,
    we also contributed to this positive outcome.
        Aid stopped going into Tigray on August 24 when hostilities
    began. It is urgent that it be resumed and be unhindered and
    that there also be restoration of services.
        Those were key elements of the discussion in Nairobi on
    November 12, and we already are seeing movement of aid into
    Mekelle and other towns in Tigray, and we expect that to
    increase in the days and weeks ahead. That is part of the
    agreement.
        Mr. McCaul. Well, that is certainly encouraging. If I can
    move to, you know, kind of followup on what the chairman was
    talking about. You know, I passed the Championing American
    Business Through Diplomacy Act and the Prosper Africa Act. I
    have already expressed to you my somewhat disappointment with
    the Development Finance Corporation's inability to do this. But
    these are two other pieces of legislation to get more private
    investment which will stabilize, you know, Africa.
        And can you tell us--and I think this will be for both of
    you. And I know you mentioned that in maybe 20 different
    countries that the Prosper Africa Act was being effective. But
    can you maybe give us a progress report on those two?
        Ms. Muyangwa. Thank you for that question, Representative
    McCaul. So Prosper Africa is our primary engagement tool on the
    economic front with Africa, and we are really looking to boost
    those efforts in terms of its engagement and contributions to
    two-way trade with the continent.
        In that regard, we are focusing on three priorities. The
    first is mobilizing U.S. institutional investments to the
    continent in three key sectors--climate, health, and
    sustainable infrastructure. The second is really looking for
    ways to fostering U.S. investments toward African innovation
    and entrepreneurship, particularly in the digital space, which
    we think is going to drive Africa's digital revolution. And
    then third is boosting African exports to the United States by
    connecting the supply chain a little bit more tightly there.
        So those are three areas that we are looking at, and we
    feel that if we do that, we are also going to bring in AGOA, as
    well as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, they are
    having a much more cohesive approach.
        Mr. McCaul. Secretary?
        Ms. Phee. I would just add that at the upcoming leaders
    summit, Ambassador Tai will host a meeting with her African
    counterparts to talk about how we can do more in the trade
    space, and just to affirm for you my commitment and the
    commitment of the Administration to do better in engaging the
    private sector so that we achieve our shared goals.
        Mr. McCaul. Thank you. I know the chairman mentioned this
    as well, that when we meet with the Ambassadors, they all echo
    that, and, you know, it is Central America too. I mean, it is a
    common theme, but I do think in areas where stability is key,
    it would help stabilize the continent and some of these
    countries where if they become destabilized--and many are--you
    are just going to breed, you know, crime, terrorism, no
    governance, and create problems for the world.
        So, anyway, with that, I just want to say thanks to the two
    of you. And I will yield back.
        Chairman Meeks. The gentleman yields back.
        I now recognize Representative Brad Sherman from California
    for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Sherman. It is, of course, natural that the Congress
    bemoan that Karen Bass is leaving us, but she is coming to us
    in Los Angeles. Many of you would like to have a mayor as good
    as Karen Bass.
        There are many issues in Africa, but I am going to devote
    my 5 minutes to the conflict in Ethiopia and Tigray, which is
    the bloodiest conflict in the world this decade.
        We have seen some food get in, and I hope that we also
    focus on the medicine getting in as well.
        I want to focus on Eritrea. Our embassy in Asmara has
    verified that Eritrean forces have been in northern Ethiopia,
    that they have blocked humanitarian assistance, that they
    committed human rights abuses, including rape and the killing
    of children.
        There is no legitimate reason for Eritrean troops to be in
    any part of Ethiopia. I am, of course, hopeful that they will
    withdraw their troops, but they are not a party to the
    agreements that the assistant secretary has cited.
        Assistant Secretary Phee , will--we support--and will you
    support--additional sanctions on Eritrea if they fail to
    withdraw their troops, including sanctions on President Afwerki
    himself and on mining in Eritrea?
        Ms. Phee. Thank you, Congressman. Absolutely, we concur
    with your assessment of the negative role of Eritrea in
    Ethiopia. It is, I think, a positive development that as part
    of these discussions the issue of foreign forces is part of the
    agreement and the withdrawal of foreign forces, but----
        Mr. Sherman. But if Eritrea does not withdraw----
        Ms. Phee. Yes, yes. Yes.
        Mr. Sherman [continuing]. You would--we would do those
    sanctions?
        I would point out that we could look at U.N. Security
    Council efforts. Of course, Russia would veto because Eritrea
    is one of the five countries in the world to actually vote
    against the Ukraine resolution.
        We could include not only that, but we could look at an
    anti-shipping campaign, not aimed at ships bringing food or
    medicine but those bringing luxury goods to Asmara.
        For 2 years, the Ethiopian Government has used hunger as a
    weapon. We have to have a contingency plan should the Ethiopian
    Government fail to meet its conditions under these agreements.
        Assistant Secretary Phee , will you commit to not restoring
    AGOA and not supporting IMF, World Bank, et cetera, loans to
    Ethiopia until the Ethiopian Government fulfills its
    obligations under the agreement, including humanitarian aid,
    protection for civilians, human rights monitoring, and a
    restoration of services, including the internet.
        Ms. Phee. Yes. We have made clear to leaders of the
    Ethiopian Government that implementation--full implementation
    of the agreement reached in Pretoria and elaborated in Nairobi
    is essential to restoring the partnership that we previously
    enjoyed.
        Mr. Sherman. We have got tens of thousands of Tigrayans,
    ethnic Tigrayans, in other parts of Ethiopia that have been put
    in detention centers. The U.N. International Commission for
    Human Rights on Ethiopia in September of this year said that
    the detentions are ongoing and that reliable information
    indicates that torture is occurring at these facilities.
        Will you commit to not supporting lifting AGOA and not
    supporting international lending until these ethnic Tigrayans
    are released?
        Ms. Phee. Yes. This is part of our dialog with the
    Ethiopian Government and with all parties who committed abuses
    during this terrible conflict.
        Mr. Sherman. And then there is the disputed area of Western
    Tigray. We saw ethnic cleansing there in November 2020. The
    agreement calls for a constitutional resolution as to which
    regional government should control Western Tigray. That could
    very well mean a referendum.
        Wouldn't any such referendum have to include only those
    people who lived there before the ethnic cleansing, rather than
    excluding those who have been driven from their homes and
    including those who moved in after November 2020?
        Ms. Phee. Congressman, I know that issue is going to be
    discussed by the parties, as you said, under their
    constitution, and I do not believe the details about how they
    would conduct any referendum or address resolution of that
    dispute have yet been determined. So I am not in a position to
    address specifically----
        Mr. Sherman. And--and----
        Ms. Phee [continuing]. A hypothetical scenario at this
    point.
        Chairman Meeks. The gentleman's time is expired.
        I now recognize Representative Chris Smith from New Jersey,
    who is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global
    Health, and Global Human Rights, for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
        As I mentioned earlier, cobalt is heavily concentrated in
    DRC. Most cobalt is processed in the People's Republic of China
    by the Chinese Communist Party. They are succeeding in creating
    a monopoly. EVs became the largest end users of cobalt last
    year, 34 percent, followed by smartphones 15 percent, and
    laptops and desktop computers by 9 percent.
        At our hearing, one of our witnesses from the The Sentry
    said, imagine you are a second grader being forced to spend all
    day tunneling in a dangerous mine with little to no safety
    equipment in an area that has many known collapses, with
    soldiers illegally intimidating and abusing minors and other
    civilians.
        My question is, what are we doing to stop it? Is President
    Tshisekedi complicit in any way, shape, or form with this
    outrageous exploitation of children and adults in the cobalt
    mines in DRC?
        Ms. Phee. Thank you, Congressman Smith, for raising this
    critical and tragic issue. The U.S. Department of Labor is
    engaged with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo
    to try and improve standards, working standards in these mines.
    We recognize that this is unacceptable practice, and we are
    working with the government to try----
        Mr. Smith. And we have had serious reports that Tshisekedi
    is involved with this, he is corrupt, and my question is, what
    is your findings on that? If you have a President who allows
    the Chinese to abuse your own children, that is unconscionable.
        Ms. Phee. I know that President Tshisekedi has reached out
    to the United States, told us that we would be a preferred
    partner in investment in these mines, which I understand to be
    an implicit recognition of the challenges and poor practices of
    Chinese investment. So we are working hard to try and take him
    up on that offer.
        Mr. Smith. But, again, how do you assess the President's
    role?
        Ms. Phee. I am not aware of direct Presidential
    involvement, but let me look at that specifically and come back
    to you.
        Mr. Smith. Could you? It is extraordinarily important.
        Ms. Phee. Yes.
        Mr. Smith. You know, with the elections coming up in
    December 2023 in DR Congo, I know the Catholic and the
    Protestant churches have combined. Are we going to work with
    them to make sure that that is a free, fair, and inclusive
    election?
        Ms. Phee. That is why we asked Secretary Blinken to travel
    to Kinshasa in August, to make clear our expectations that the
    upcoming election be free and fair and peaceful.
        We continue to engage with the government, and Dr. Monde
    could talk a little bit about USAID's support for the Electoral
    Commission. But absolutely we share those goals and are working
    I think diligently to try and achieve them.
        Ms. Muyangwa. And we recognize the importance and some of
    the challenges of the upcoming elections, so we are working to
    strengthen the electoral management body in the DRC to ensure
    that they have the capacity to hold free, fair, and transparent
    elections.
        We also continue to engage with officials from the DRC on
    reinforcing the same----
        Mr. Smith. Again, probably the most credible entity in DRC
    are the churches, the faith community, and they have done,
    against all odds, yeomen's work in the past. Will they be
    included, both the Catholic and the Protestant churches, and
    most importantly, will they get the funding to make it possible
    for them to do their work in a free and fair way?
        Ms. Muyangwa. We engage with civil society. I cannot speak
    directly to what the breakdown is in terms of faith
    organizations' participation in that engagement. But we could
    definitely followup and provide you with that response.
        Mr. Smith. Chairman, I am hoping to lead a delegation there
    next year, because we have got to get this right. I mean, after
    that hearing--I knew what was going on in those mines, I raised
    it a number of times--but until I heard from two DR Congolese
    leaders, including a Jesuit priest, it just--how could this
    President be complicit in this? And I believe he is, and I
    think that we have got to follow that up very aggressively,
    this abuse of children.
        Ms. Phee. Congressman, I just want to add, to inform you
    that I had the honor to meet with a delegation of religious
    leaders from Congo to talk about these very issues, and I want
    to reassure you that we here in Washington, as well as our
    mission in Kinshasa, are actively engaged and respect very much
    the leadership role they play and----
        Mr. Smith. Thank you. I am almost out of time. Just a
    couple of other questions, and I have many, but the strategy,
    again, did not include religious persecution, which is on the
    rise on the subcontinent.
        Was Rashad Hussain, our, your, your designee, but he is the
    Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, was he
    involved with that process? Because surely he would have
    wanted, I think, a major section of this to be devoted to
    religious freedom.
        And, last--again, out of time--do you support--and do this
    in written form--a criminal tribunal for Liberia? I have had
    hearings in the past. We have had Allan White testify. Yes,
    there was one in Sierra Leone, but Liberia still has a number
    of people who committed genocide that have not been held to
    account.
        Charles Taylor, of course, is at the Hague, you know, was
    convicted, but that was Sierra Leone's Tribunal.
        There was a call in 2009 to establish a war crimes tribunal
    there. Will you support that?
        Ms. Phee. On the last issue, I would like to come back to
    you. I am not well versed on that issue, so if I could take
    that for the record, I will come back to you.
        On the issue of religious freedom, again, I always want to
    thank you. It is so important that you raise this issue
    vocally. It really amplifies U.S. voice and impact.
        We very much consider the law to be a guiding principle of
    how we conduct ourselves, the embassy and all of us here in
    Washington, including Ambassador Hussain. So I do not want you
    to think that because there is not a specific section, that it
    isn't embedded in every way in which we engage. I just want to
    affirm that for you.
        Ms. Muyangwa. I would just echo the assistant secretary's
    work that the issue of religious freedom is one that is
    reflected in the work that USAID does, and so we will continue
    to engage on that issue in all of our partnerships and work
    with our African partners.
        Chairman Meeks. I now recognize Representative and the next
    mayor--or the mayor-elect from Los Angeles, California, Karen
    Bass, currently still the chair of the House Africa
    Subcommittee, for 5 minutes.
        Ms. Bass. For as long as I can be. Thank you. Thank you,
    Mr. Chairman, again, and thank you, Ambassador----
        Chairman Meeks. Unmute yourself.
        Ms. Bass. Oh, I am. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? No?
        Chairman Meeks. We cannot hear you.
        Ms. Bass. Oh, I am not muted. How about now?
        Chairman Meeks. Can we check that here? I cannot hear.
        Ms. Bass. Yes, I am not muted. No?
        Mr. Schneider. I can hear her on Zoom.
        Chairman Meeks. Hold on 1 second.
        Ms. Bass. OK.
        How about now? Any luck?
        Chairman Meeks. As we deal with the technical difficulties,
    and I do not know whether it is just Representative Bass, but
    while we try to work to see--let me try and yield 5 minutes to
    Representative Bill Keating of Massachusetts, the chair of the
    Europe Subcommittee.
        Is he on? Let's see if his audio works.
        Mr. Keating. I am here.
        Ms. Bass. Hello? Can you guys hear me?
        Mr. Keating. I can hear.
        Ms. Bass. You can hear me, Bill?
        Mr. Keating. I can hear you, yes.
        Chairman Meeks. We do not see Representative Keating. I am
    also just trying to check to see the depth of the technical
    problems.
        Let me recognize Representative Dina Titus of Nevada for 5
    minutes, if she is on.
        Mr. Keating. We are on.
        Ms. Titus. Mr. Chairman, can you hear me? Can you hear me,
    Mr. Chairman?
        Chairman Meeks. So I am told that Webex is having issues
    for those that are on virtually. So while we fix those
    technical difficulties, I will yield 5 minutes to
    Representative Tom Malinowski from New Jersey, who is the vice
    chair of the full committee.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to our
    witnesses.
        I wanted to focus on Ethiopia as well. And I would start by
    saying, I think this agreement is a potentially huge step
    forward, and thank you to both of you and Ambassador Hammer and
    Secretary Blinken and everybody who has been working very hard
    to try to bring an end to the fighting and the killing and the
    suffering of the people of Ethiopia.
        We already went over one of the potential weaknesses, and
    thank you for the very clear and definitive answers on
    Eritrea's role in the conflict. I wanted to ask as well about
    the humanitarian access challenges. Obviously, part of the
    agreement includes a commitment by the Government of Ethiopia
    to expedite humanitarian assistance and the restoration of
    services.
        What we have seen thus far is still very, very limited
    though, as I am sure you would acknowledge, basically two
    trucks to Mekelle, which is nothing. And I wanted to started
    with just a broad question.
        What do you think the problem is, why is the government
    still apparently holding up aid shipments, and what are we
    doing to overcome them?
        Ms. Phee. I think we are in a much better position than we
    were in the summer where aid--we worked very hard, as you know,
    to get aid rolling, but it only went through a far province.
    What the government is now willing to do and what we have
    already seen is trucks moving from Amhara Region. The roads are
    better, and that will open up multiple lines. So my expectation
    is that we will begin to see the kind of aid deliveries that we
    need.
        Part of the challenge bureaucratically or logistically is
    that the international humanitarian agencies needed to do a
    security survey before they began moving. Those surveys should
    be completed within the next few days, and that will
    facilitate.
        I also wanted to call your attention to an ICRC delivery of
    medical supplies, which is in addition to the truck movements.
    So I believe we are cautiously optimistic that we will see the
    results that need to happen.
        Mr. Malinowski. OK. Well, there is a comment by the lead
    government negotiator, Reda, who is saying--that struck me as
    concerning. He said, quote, ``Once the government controls the
    airports, the navigation system, and the airspace fully, then
    we will allow aid to flow both on the ground and in the air.''
        What is going on there? Does that strike you as an
    appropriate condition to place on the free flow of food and
    medicine?
        Ms. Phee. I also saw those comments. What is important is
    that the agreement--the elaboration of the agreement that was
    negotiated in Nairobi has no such reservations. And that is our
    expectation that they will--the government will comply with
    those--with that agreement.
        Mr. Malinowski. OK. And, finally, I want to ask you about
    an aspect of this that we do not talk about often enough, and
    that is the role that some of our leading American companies
    have played in creating this environment in Ethiopia and in
    many other countries around the world in which people who live
    together now hate each other with a passion that has, in this
    case, led to horrific acts of violence.
        I am talking, obviously, about Facebook and Google that
    created these platforms, which they try to moderate in the
    United States but moderate far less in countries where people
    speak languages that Silicon Valley does not speak.
        I am just wondering--I am sure you share my assessment on
    this--to what extent is the department, the Administration
    engaging with leadership of these companies to pressure them to
    dedicate the vastly greater resources that are needed to ensure
    that incitement of violence, incitement of genocide by armed
    actors and just by regular people in countries like Ethiopia is
    actually dealt with?
        Ms. Phee. I appreciate you raising this concern. I do not
    think I have a good answer. We have had episodic engagement
    with the leadership of those companies. We haven't achieved the
    results we would like to see. I would observe that that in the
    more specific case of Ethiopia we have separately attempted to
    engage with the diaspora, which itself has played a role in
    accelerating this rhetoric, so sort of having diplomatic
    engagement to compensate for the deficiencies in the social
    media space.
        I would also observe that I think this is a problem across
    the continent. We have a lot of fragile societies that coexist
    uneasily, and social media, as well Russian propaganda, for
    example, by the Wagner Group, can be very disruptive and
    divisive.And I do not know--it is a problem, frankly, in our
    own society as you know well, and I think it is an area where
    we can work together.
        We are lucky to have Nate Fick now at the State Department
    who is looking at cyber and digital policy, and I think there
    is hope that we can try and do more in this space.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you.
        My time is up.
        Chairman Meeks. The gentleman's time has expired.
        I think we are trying to do a mike check on the virtual, so
    let's see what we have there.
        Staff. Mike check, five, four, three, two, one.
        Chairman Meeks. Can we do the mike check?
        Staff. Trying again. Five, four, three, two, one.
        Chairman Meeks. I can hear it very faintly, five, four,
    three, two, one, but we cannot hear you clearly or loudly.
        Staff. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three,
    two, one.
        Chairman Meeks. I can now hear you.
        So I would move forward to our next member, and that is
    Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. You are recognized
    for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Perry. Thank you very much.
        I would like to start out by acknowledging the service of
    my colleague on the other side of the aisle from New Jersey,
    Mr. Malinowski. I have found him to be an engaged, informed,
    and thoughtful and worthy adversary. We haven't agreed on a
    lot, but he has been here to serve. And I just wanted to say
    that that should be acknowledged and appreciated.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you so much, seriously.
        Mr. Perry. Ladies, Director, Secretary, thanks for being
    here.
        Would you acknowledge, both of you, that Congolese child
    labor in the cobalt mines is occurring? Is that something that
    we can agree on?
        Ms. Phee. Yes.
        Mr. Perry. Sounds like that is a yes.
        Would you characterize--I do not know where you are on
    this, but would you characterize yourself as generally for
    colonialism or generally against colonialism? And I would
    describe it as the exploitation of one nation's resources by
    another nation's.
        Ms. Phee. I think I can speak for my colleague that we
    would both be opposed.
        Thank you.
        Mr. Perry. OK. So it wouldn't be--Director, I think you
    mentioned disinformation. It wouldn't be disinformation to say
    that the Chinese are practicing colonialist activities in
    Africa, particularly in the Congo in the cobalt mines and in
    particular with the child labor practices that are occurring
    there? That wouldn't be disinformation, would it?
        Ms. Phee. No, sir.
        Mr. Perry. No, I did not think so.
        Would you also acknowledge that there is slave labor
    incorporated--and I know this is out of your sphere of direct
    work, but in East Turkestan, Xinjiang Province in China--
    regarding the construction of batteries and related items to
    electric vehicles and electronics and essentially the net zero
    agenda, slave labor?
        Ms. Phee. As you mentioned, I wouldn't feel comfortable
    speaking outside of Africa. I do not have the data or the
    knowledge.
        Mr. Perry. Director?
        Ms. Muyangwa. Nor do I.
        Mr. Perry. OK. So neither one of you have ever heard about
    these claims or are unaware? Are you aware and just not sure
    or----
        Ms. Phee. Obviously, sir, we are aware as hopefully
    informed foreign affairs professionals.
        Mr. Perry. I just wanted to get that from you.
        Ms. Phee. Thank you.
        Mr. Perry. So what autonomy do you believe that Africa
    should have in deciding how it produces and distributes energy?
    And where does the United States tax dollar play a factor in
    that? What autonomy should African nations have in choosing?
        Ms. Phee. As the central tenet of the strategy is to treat
    Africans as partners, we believe they should have autonomy and
    that they do have autonomy.
        Of course, as the United States seeking to advance our
    interests, we will use all of the tools available to us to
    promote our views and interests in our engagement with African
    nations.
        Mr. Perry. So do you think that the United States should
    promote its views on religion on the people of Africa?
        Ms. Phee. It is U.S. law, sir, for us to promote religious
    freedom.
        Mr. Perry. OK. But what about religious dogma? I understand
    religious freedom, and we can get into a long discussion about
    promoting religious freedom as it is juxtaposed to what
    actually happens in the law. But, generally speaking, do you
    think that the United States should promote the--the U.S.
    Government, through United States tax dollars, should promote
    the belief in Christianity, so to speak, or Judaism, or
    anything else?
        Ms. Phee. Congressman, my conduct and the conduct of our
    team is guided by our Constitution and by our law.
        Mr. Perry. What does that mean? Do you believe in the
    promotion of that or not?
        Ms. Phee. I believe in the promotion of religious freedom
    but not as to any particular dogma.
        Mr. Perry. OK. Yes, not in any particular dogma, which I
    would agree with you.
        So why then do you think it is appropriate for the United
    States to impose on Africa the zero carbon or the net zero
    agenda on a population that is striving and struggling to get
    out of poverty knowing, knowing, that it is also the imposition
    of Chinese colonialism, tied to child labor, slave labor, at a
    minimum, and also at an increased cost to some of the people--
    to people who can least afford it on the planet? Why is that
    appropriate?
        Ms. Phee. The verb ``impose'' is perhaps not an accurate
    reflection of policy. I understand our policy to be to
    encourage zero carbon results, but to also recognize the
    challenges that Africa is facing right now, just as you have
    identified, and to support adaptation and to support
    transition.
        So I think we recognize the complexity of the situation,
    and we also recognize that the Russian war in Ukraine has
    created additional complications on the global energy agenda,
    and we need to work through those complications.
        Chairman Meeks. The gentleman's time has expired.
        Mr. Perry. Thank you, Chair.
        Chairman Meeks. I now recognize Representative Dina Titus
    from Nevada for 5 minutes.
        Ms. Titus. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I would like to followup on some of the points that were
    made earlier about the Ethiopian conflict and ask this to
    Assistant Secretary Phee.
        Now that the conflict has ended--and we hope that
    continues--I wonder what actions the Administration has taken
    to support unfettered access to the Tigray Region so that they
    can conduct, oh, investigations into potential war crimes,
    human rights violations, crimes against humanity? We have heard
    that access has been hindered from a number of different
    sources. I wonder if you could enlighten us more on that.
        Ms. Phee. Representative Titus, thank you for raising that
    important issue.
        In conversations that the Secretary, Ambassador Hammer, and
    I have had with Ethiopian government and TPLF representatives
    about resolving this conflict, we have raised the importance of
    addressing accountability, the grave human rights violations
    that have occurred during this conflict, and the importance of
    having independent monitors, chiefly those from the United
    Nations, be able to enter Tigray and other areas of Ethiopia
    where we understand abuses have taken place.
        So I want to reassure you that in recent days, in every
    conversation we have had about addressing this conflict, we
    have explained the importance to the United States of
    significant action to address the human rights violations that
    took place.
        Ms. Titus. Well, good. I am glad to hear that, and I know
    some of my constituents who have been very concerned about that
    will also. Maybe you could keep us kind of posted on some of
    the findings that you all have as you pursue this.
        Now I would like to ask the director, we are talking about
    Prosper Africa and how that is going to be a key player as we
    enhance our economic relations between the U.S. and Africa. I
    wonder if you could explain how Prosper Africa is working to
    connect building on public-private relationships in order to
    provide more opportunities for women-owned businesses or micro
    industries.
        Ms. Muyangwa. Thank you for that question, Congresswoman.
        So Prosper Africa, through a number of initiatives focuses
    on women, there is an actual standalone on an initiative that
    we have that focuses on women businesses and trying to
    encourage them in the trade sphere. So we will continue to push
    on that end, to expand that program, and have it take hold both
    within Prosper Africa itself but also in our support for AGOA
    and African continental free trade area work that we are doing.
        Ms. Titus. How do you get the word out that this is
    available for people to take advantage of or to use to startup
    businesses for women or promote their products so that we
    become a better market for those companies in Africa?
        Ms. Muyangwa. Prosper Africa has actually established a
    digital platform--its name escapes me now--where businesses on
    both ends can tap into this digital platform to get all of the
    information that they need about doing business with each
    other. And we have seen tremendous access to that platform
    trying to find out what the opportunities are, trying to find
    out how the U.S. Government can support those who would like to
    engage in Africa.
        I can definitely followup on that and get you the
    information that you need.
        Ms. Titus. Well, thank you.
        And thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
        Chairman Meeks. The gentlewoman yields back.
        I now recognize Representative Darrell Issa of California
    for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Issa. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        And I want to continue on on the Prosper Africa initiative.
        You know, Secretary Pompeo put a lot of time and effort
    into getting it started, but today now, 2 additional years past
    the changing of the Administration, one of my questions is what
    can you point to as specifics of accomplishment? In other
    words, usually there is at least anecdotal stories, and I
    haven't heard any of them today.
        Ms. Muyangwa. Thank you for that question, Representative
    Issa.
        Let me just go to some of the accomplishments that we have
    had in the Prosper Africa, if you will just give me a second.
    Sorry.
        Mr. Issa. While you are doing that, I am going to ask a
    followup question, realizing we are dealing primarily with
    Africa. Is this, in fact, a program that is equally portable
    and should be equally distributed throughout similar countries
    beyond Sub-Saharan Africa?
        Maybe that is a good question while we are waiting for
    specific accomplishments.
        Ms. Muyangwa. So let me just very quickly speak to some of
    the accomplishments.
        Since its establishment, we have mobilized $1.5 billion of
    investment in climate health and sustainable infrastructure and
    also established teams of investment advisors at both USAID and
    DFC who work with embassy drill teams to advance trade and
    investment transactions.
        We are working with dedicated Prosper Africa funding to
    mobilize exports into the trade space by expanding our
    resourcing operations. And so for every $1 of U.S. Government
    funding, we are leveraging at least $15 in private sector
    investment.
        We recently took a group of U.S. pension funds from
    Chicago, Hartford, and Philadelphia to Africa to break down the
    perceptions of risks; therefore, bridging this perception of
    the risk in Africa being too high. Often what we find is that
    when people actually get on the ground, they get to see that
    that risk perception is not uniform across the continent and
    that there are areas where they could actually invest.
        And as a result, they invested $85 million in a Pan African
    fund along with a South African pension fund, and this is going
    to provide financing to entrepreneurs and small businesses
    across West Africa.
        So those are just some of the accomplishments that we have
    had that we are looking to build on.
        Mr. Issa. So the $85 million fund has not been distributed
    yet, but it is in process? Is that your statement?
        Ms. Muyangwa. I understand, sir, but I can confirm that and
    get back to your office.
        Mr. Issa. OK. And I appreciate your answer, and I know you
    were attempting to be fully responsive. What I was looking for
    were those examples where an implementation has led to a change
    in a community or individual entrepreneurs, and so on.
        What I heard is what we usually have--do in government. We
    talk about how many people we employed and how much money we
    spent. So if you do not mind, for the record, if you would
    followup with examples of implementation that have led to
    economic differences; in other words, the effect of the money
    we spent rather than the effort we made to spend it and to
    educate.
        Mr. Chairman, I am going to use my remaining time to just
    make a comment.
        I know this is an important hearing. And with my colleague
    and longtime friend, Karen Bass, moving on to another large job
    in her career, I wanted to take a moment to thank her for the
    hard work and the many years that she has been a leader on this
    committee. I know she'll be missed by all of us, on both sides
    of the aisle. So, you know, we often get--we often talk about
    what we do not agree on, and I could certainly bring up a few
    here today. But it would be inappropriate when, in fact, Karen,
    you have worked so hard on what we do agree on. And I want to
    thank you for your service.
        And with that, Mr. Chairman, I will yield back my last 12
    seconds.
        Mr. Malinowski [presiding]. Thank you.
        The chair now recognizes Representative Castro for 5
    minutes.
        Mr. Castro. Thank you, Chairman.
        And also thank you, Karen, for all your work on the African
    Subcommittee over the years, incredible work.
        I will jump right in. In 1 month the United States is
    hosting the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit here in Washington.
    This, of course, is an important opportunity to demonstrate
    U.S. leadership in the region. But I believe there should be
    more visibility on what we hope to substantively accomplish at
    this summit.
        And so my question for Assistant Secretary Phee is what
    concrete deliverables can we expect from this summit?
        Ms. Phee. Thank you very much for the question.
        I view this summit as an opportunity to consolidate the
    great work that is already underway. You know, thanks to
    Congress, we have doubled our normal food security investment
    of about $400 million to about $800 million this year to help
    Africans deal with the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
        Likewise, under the President and the Secretary's
    leadership, we have also massively increased our investment in
    health to help Africans not only deal with the COVID pandemic
    and the economic impact but to help develop health security to
    deal with the next pandemic that is coming. And you see a lot
    of news coming out of Sharm El Sheikh where we have increased
    our engagement to help with managing climate change.
        So a lot of what we will be doing in the summit is sort of
    consolidating what great work and partnership is already
    underway, having a conversation about what else is needed, and
    using the summit to catapult the relationship forward.
        I expect there to be serious discussion about increasing
    the African role in the multilateral system, whether the G20,
    the Security Council, or reforms to multilateral banking
    institutions so that they have the financing and investment
    that we have talked about.
        And it will be important for leaders to meet not only
    President Biden but the rest of the Cabinet.
        And I mentioned earlier the Africa Business Forum, as well
    as related side events, where we are really making an effort to
    expose African leaders to American companies.
        So those are the types of activities that we expect to come
    out of the summit.
        Mr. Castro. Wonderful. Well, thank you so much for your
    great work.
        And, you know, Congress has played a leading role in
    deepening our engagement with Africa such as through the
    African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Electrify Africa Act
    of 2015. What legislative efforts will support the anticipated
    summit outcomes?
        And then also if I heard that African countries have not
    received their formal invitations to the summit, what is the
    timeline for sending those invitations or getting them out?
        Ms. Phee. The latter question first, I think that is an
    erroneous report. We have formally invited the delegations, and
    we are looking forward to receiving confirmation this week of
    who is coming. They also have received a draft program with
    speaking roles, and we are engaged with both our embassies in
    Africa and here in Washington with the diplomatic corps.
        Ambassador Tai will be hosting a meeting of her
    counterparts to discuss the future of AGOA. It is my belief
    that there is a win-win scenario for us with AGOA and for
    Africans through the continental free trade area, and I am
    hopeful that in that discussion we can talk about how we can
    help both populations do better with trade and investment and
    jobs.
        So those are some of the types of activities that will also
    be part of this multiday extravaganza.
        Mr. Castro. Great. Well, you know, I am glad that the
    formal invitations have been extended and that you are going to
    hear back soon on who is attending because I have seen and
    others have seen these summits coming together at the last
    minute and we end up not getting out of the summit everything
    that we potentially could. So I am very glad that the State
    Department is on top of it.
        It is also good to see including African companies in
    multilateral forums. I have been disappointed they have not
    been as vested at the U.N. on Ukraine issues, for instance. And
    we have to be more inclusive. We should be more inclusive of
    the people of Africa, the people of Latin America, and places
    in the world that the U.S. Congress, for example, does not
    often pay as much attention to as Europe or other places.
        So thank you for all of your work, and I look forward to
    being helpful, you know, in helping to deliver legislatively
    whatever we agree to at the summit.
        I yield back.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you.
        The chair now recognizes Representative Burchett of
    Tennessee for 5 minutes,
        Mr. Burchett. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Appreciative your
    friendship. You are an excellent legislator and an excellent
    receiver I will say on the congressional football team.
        Ms. Phee, could you talk to me a little bit about China's
    growing influence in Africa and how, in fact, that is
    undermining our relationship across the continent? I am always
    concerned about the Belt and Road Initiative and the way that
    they just mistreat folks. And I am wondering if you could
    elaborate on some of that please, ma'am.
        Ms. Phee. Thank you for the question.
        It is a challenge that we are alert to and trying to
    address. Even though are some areas where we can cooperate with
    China, particularly in the environment, but there are many more
    areas where we need to compete and in some instances contest.
    We have a different model than the Chinese, as you know. We
    invest in human capital and development and in systems and in
    institutions. Sometimes some of that investment is less
    obviously visible. The Chinese tend to do bright and shiny
    objects. Some of the investment in infrastructure has been
    helpful. Other practices have resulted in substandard
    infrastructure and substandard labor practices.
        So we are working to develop alternatives for our African
    partners so that they are able to choose U.S. engagement, and
    we are also working with the G7 and the EU to expand the
    opportunities for Africans to move away from the Chinese model.
        Mr. Burchett. Thank you.
        I would hope at some point we would look into creating
    entrepreneurs in Africa, not just creating sweatshops. And I
    kind of weird out on bamboo all the time. I make bamboo
    skateboards at home. It is cheaper than a psychiatrist, so it
    kind of gets my mind off things. But I notice in some areas
    they use what is called iron bamboo and make bicycles, and then
    they export them to America and they sell them for thousands of
    dollars, things like that. I would hope we would kind of look
    outside of the--you know, they are not going to create a
    computer out in middle of the desert somewhere. But, dadgummit,
    they could do some things I think that would help, and I would
    hope that we would look to some of those.
        I have an another question, though. You brought up
    environment. It is not in my notes, but I've been studying this
    for quite some time, is the reclaiming of some of these deserts
    that are really just ravaging these countries due to they do
    not have education. They do not have fuel. They have to burn
    the trees. There is not anything left, nothing to hold the top
    soil down. The U.N. a few years ago listed not--they listed
    several things that were of great concern. Their No. 1 concern
    at one time to humanity was the depletion of top soil, oddly
    enough.
        And I am wondering, are you all doing anything to work with
    them? I know the Chinese are, and that scares the daylights out
    of me because the Chinese aren't doing it because they love the
    people of Africa. They want to control more and get more rare
    metals.
        I wonder, are you all doing anything in that realm of
    reclaiming deserts in some of those really deprived areas?
        Ms. Phee. That is such an important issue, but it is very
    specific. So I would like to look into the blizzard of
    environmental project finance that has just been announced as
    part of Sharm El Sheikh and come back to you. I would offer
    that both important issues you have highlighted, entrepreneur
    and helping Africans deal with the terrible impacts of climate
    change, I think are united, and we are trying to see how we can
    support entrepreneurs in this space. But if it is OK, I will
    come back to you on the specific issue of the soil in the
    Sahara.
        Mr. Burchett. I wish you really would. I do not--do not
    just check a box. Unless the Lord or somebody else takes me
    out, I am going to be here for 2 more years, so I would expect
    to hear from you all hopefully in the new year.
        Ma'am, did you want to add to that, please?
        Ms. Muyangwa. Sure. We at USAID have some work going on in
    that area, particularly in the Sahara. I am not sure as to the
    scale and scope, but I would say that given developments in
    that region it is probably work that we would appreciate some
    advocacy in terms of scaling up that work.
        Mr. Burchett. OK. And I would also--I like USAID. Sometimes
    I do not like some of the stuff USAID does. I think you all
    have a PR problem. And with just like the desert changing
    sands, there are changing sands in Washington. And if you all
    could work some on your PR and letting us know exactly the good
    things you all are doing, I would really appreciate that,
    ma'am, because I would like to be in your corner on a lot of
    issues.
        Thank you all.
        And I yield back the remainder of my 2 seconds, Mr.
    Chairman.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you.
        And I have been wondering whether dadgummit is an allowable
    word in the Foreign Affairs----
        Mr. Burchett. Dadgummit, D-a-d-g-u-m-m-i-t.
        Mr. Malinowski. I am going to allow it.
        Mr. Burchett. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. Malinowski. It is just a thought that I had.
        Mr. Burchett. If you did not, it would knock out about half
    of my vocabulary.
        Thank you, Brother.
        Mr. Malinowski. And with that, we are going to recess the
    committee for just a short period of time so that we can
    observe interesting events on the floor of the House and
    hopefully come back as soon as possible.
        So if I could ask the witnesses to hang out for a bit, that
    would be great.
        Thank you so much.
        [Recess.]
        [1 p.m.]
        Mr. Malinowski. Let's call the committee back in session.
        And we will begin or resume with Representative Sara Jacobs
    of California for 5 minutes.
        Ms. Jacobs. Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you so much
    to our witnesses. And I will echo the comments of my
    colleagues. We are going to miss the leadership of
    Congresswoman Bass. And I know that Los Angeles is very lucky,
    and I am very lucky that we are only 2 hours away in San Diego.
        So my first question is for you, Assistant Secretary Phee.
    I was so glad to see in the Administration's Africa strategy a
    recognition that our counterterrorism approach over the past 3
    decades has come up short and that there are strong linkages
    between exclusionary governance, human rights abuses, and
    corruption with insecurity.
        Just the other day Assistant Administrator Jenkins from
    USAID CPS Bureau noted that 71 percent of violent extremists
    escalated to violence because they or a close family member
    experienced violence personally from the State.
        So my question is how will this acknowledgment of the needs
    to change our counterterrorism approach actually change our
    approach? In other words, as the lead on U.S. diplomacy in
    Africa, how will you use your position to incentivize needed
    reform and governance in human rights so that governments hear
    this signal loud and clear that our priority is actually those
    things and not if they just help us a little a long time on
    counterterrorism, we will turn a blind eye on everything else?
        Ms. Phee. Thank you very much for your leadership on this
    issue and for your focus on the linkages between good
    governance and bad security.
        I think we all agree, for example, what we are seeing in
    the Sahel is problems in governance that lead to
    vulnerabilities that the terrorists exploit.
        We have two big tools at our disposal. One is our voice,
    how we engage with leaders. And I want to reassure you that we
    are emphasizing the importance of these issues in our
    discussions with governments, as well as other aspects of a
    society, to help increase their understanding that it is a
    priority for our funding and our engagement.
        We are also looking at our resourcing, and the Global
    Fragility Act I think will be the best tool that is available
    to us.
        And we are also--a third leg, which I would like to take
    the time to brief you on later if I can, is that we have done a
    lot of review and research of programs, particularly the Trans-
    Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, what worked, what hasn't
    so that we can guide our interventions in the future.
        And, last, I would say one of the exciting aspects to me of
    the GFA is the focus on metrics and constant evaluation so that
    we hold ourselves accountable to doing better and changing the
    way we do things.
        Ms. Jacobs. Thank you. And I will look forward to that
    briefing.
        On the same topic I think nowhere is more clear that our
    military first approach has failed than Somalia, and while
    there have been recent tactical gains in central and southern
    Somalia against Al-Shabaab, the absence of effective governance
    has prevented long-term progress, deep divisions among Federal
    leaders, et cetera.
        So given that reconciliation among these entities is vital
    to moving forward, what concrete actions is the Biden
    Administration taking to support efforts on reconciliation
    which the president, President Hassan Sheikh, has identified as
    a priority? And does the State Department have a plan to help
    the Federal Government of Somalia seek reconciliation through a
    long-term effort?
        Ms. Phee. Absolutely. We are working in support of the
    president's leadership for the Federal Government to engage in
    a sustained and systemic growth with the member States so that
    they can achieve the kind of political reforms you have
    identified.
        You will recall that Under Secretary Nuland traveled to
    Somalia this summer. President Hassan Sheikh came to Washington
    in September and met, among others, with Secretary Blinken, and
    a key message in those engagements is the need for him to
    sustain and expand that political reconciliation.
        Ms. Jacobs. Thank you.
        Assistant Administrator Muyangwa, my next question is for
    you.
        I was pleased by Administrator Power's prioritization of
    locally led development at USAID. I think it is particularly
    relevant for Africa where the international communities'
    approach has historically not been locally led. Unfortunately,
    most development in Africa has too often been led by U.S.-based
    contract developers.
        So I wanted to ask about the recently announced Africa
    Localization Initiative to direct more funding to local
    organizations. Can you speak to any details about the planned
    implementation of this announcement and how we can work
    together to ensure its success?
        Ms. Muyangwa. Thank you very much for that question.
        We agree fully with you about the importance of
    localization to sustainable development, particularly on the
    continent. Fortunately, we do have a solid foundation on which
    to build on with our localization efforts since a number of
    previous Administrations of USAID have focused on that. So we
    are continuing to build on that foundation.
        Right now the Africa Bureau is designing an African
    Localization Initiative to fit within the border of USAID
    localization effort. And we are looking at a handful of
    countries where we are going to look at how we can enhance our
    localization efforts there and then come back and scale up our
    two other missions.
        And we anticipate that we will be able to announce
    additional details about this initiative before the end of the
    year. So we will be happy to reengage at that point.
        Ms. Jacobs. I will look forward to those details.
        Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you.
        The chair now recognizes Representative Tenney of New York
    for 5 minutes.
        Ms. Tenney. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I just want to say
    thank you to the witnesses.
        And my first question is going to be for Assistant
    Secretary Phee.
        On October 18, the State Department publicly acknowledged
    that Iran transferred Mohajer-6 unmanned aerial vehicles to
    Ethiopia last summer. This is a direct violation of U.N.
    Security Council Resolution 2231. I wanted to know if you could
    tell me if the Administration has used access or the
    authorities provided under its Executive Order 13949 in Iran--
    relating to Iran or related entities or people for its role in
    providing these drones to Ethiopia which permits the broad
    application of sanctions against individuals who have engaged
    or attempted to engage in manufacture, acquisition, possession,
    development, transport, transfer, or use of any of these
    military items to and from Iran.
        Has the Administration used these authorities against these
    entities or people for all of those above--any of those all or
    above reasons in their role in procuring those drones from
    Iran?
        Ms. Phee. Thank you for highlighting that troublesome
    action.
        My understanding is that we have taken direct action,
    sanctions. I would want to check on the particular authorities
    that were used and get back to you.
        Ms. Tenney. So you believe there has been some sanctions
    done?
        Ms. Phee. Yes.
        Ms. Tenney. Can we--I just want to be sure for the record
    we can get those under the chairman's rule.
        Ms. Phee. Yes.
        Ms. Tenney. Thank you.
        And so let me just followup with this. We have been very
    clear about the fact that these drones are--or these Mohajer
    drones to Russia--in violation of U.N. Security Council 2231.
    Is there reason why we haven't taken a similar public stance
    against actions by Ethiopia which presumably are also a
    violation under the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231?
        Ms. Phee. To ensure that I am perfectly correct, I would
    like to followup on that question.
        Ms. Tenney. OK. Thank you.
        So I would just ask, are we--does not limiting our
    criticism of the Iranian Mohajer transfer to Europe in context
    undermine the legitimacy of our position when it comes to these
    UAVs and under the U.N. Resolution 2231 were inconsistent in
    dealing with these two different entities?
        Ms. Phee. We have spoken repeatedly and directly about the
    danger and acceleration of the conflict that has been caused by
    external parties providing weapons. So it has been part of our
    public diplomacy, and I will followup on the specifics.
        Ms. Tenney. Thank you.
        What kind of sanctions really do you envision would happen?
    Under the Biden Administration, what are we going to be doing?
    What do you think would be appropriate in this situation here?
        Ms. Phee. With regard to actions by Iran?
        Ms. Tenney. Taking action on the transfer of these unmanned
    aerial vehicles of this nature from Iran to Ethiopia and also
    in the case of Russia.
        Ms. Phee. I do not mean to dodge the question, but I would
    prefer to consult with our authorities on the sanctions. I
    think they would have the best answer for that, and I will
    followup.
        Ms. Tenney. Are you aware of any of this happening, though,
    of these actually happening, or you are just not sure of the
    exact nature of them happening?
        Ms. Phee. Their reaction or the conduct?
        Ms. Tenney. The conduct.
        Ms. Phee. No, absolutely we are aware of the conduct.
        Ms. Tenney. Is it that you do not have the specifics on
    what the sanctions would be, or you know the conduct occurred;
    you just do not know what the Administration has done? Is that
    what you are explaining?
        Ms. Phee. It is the authorities I'm not sure which were
    used so that I would prefer to be accurate in my response.
        Ms. Tenney. OK. But the authorities--they have done
    something. Sanctions have been implicated. You just do not know
    the exact nature of them?
        Ms. Phee. I would like to take that back and confirm that I
    am giving you the best answer.
        Ms. Tenney. OK. So basically you do not--you are not sure
    if any sanctions have been taken?
        Ms. Phee. I know that there have been sanctions taken
    against Iranian actions with regard to transfers, weapons
    transfers, but I do not know the specifics.
        Ms. Tenney. OK. But you know that it was done?
        Ms. Phee. I really am not in a good position to answer. I
    need to come back to you.
        Ms. Tenney. OK. I guess my question, so you did confirm?
    You know that the transfers were done. Sanctions were initiated
    using the authorities. We just need to get the specifics on
    that. Can I just clarify that?
        Ms. Phee. I really am not confident in the arrangement, so
    I will come back to you, if that is OK.
        Ms. Tenney. OK. Can we get that within the 5 days as
    required by the----
        Ms. Phee. Absolutely.
        Ms. Tenney. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
        I yield back.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you.
        The chair now recognizes Representative Allred of Texas for
    5 minutes.
        Mr. Allred. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        And I am glad to see our witnesses here. I will say this.
    At the encouragement of Chairman Meeks, I was lucky enough to
    be part of the Presidential delegation to the inauguration of
    the new Kenyan president with our two distinguished guests this
    afternoon. And, you know, it was inspiring to see a country
    that had experienced difficult and violent transitions or lack
    thereof or challenges to election results have and go through
    an election in which the results were accepted.
        We met people who I think we can all agree proudly
    understood what happened in the election. They allowed
    transparency around it. They had, I think, an inspiring
    inauguration in which their handing over of the instruments of
    power are very literal.
        And I think it was also important that there were a lot of
    other African leaders there who could learn from Kenya's
    example. And, you know, obviously as an American and someone
    who was into voting rights before I game to Congress, I found
    that to be inspiring, but also even an example for us given
    that we did not have a peaceful transfer of power for the first
    time in our history after our last Presidential election.
        And, you know, Africa, as you have said in your
    testimoneys, is a continent of opportunity, of young folks, of
    entrepreneurs, of, you know, women taking on enormous
    leadership roles, of emerging countries that we need to support
    and encourage the positive trends and help them combat some of
    the things that are challenging them.
        And so, you know, Dr. Muyangwa, I will say, Ms. Phee, what
    do you see Kenya's role in terms of being the anchor of our
    regional strategy? What impact do you think we have already
    seen from the change in Administration there? And how has that
    impacted the Biden Administration's approach here in terms of
    your Sub-Saharan Africa overall strategy?
        Ms. Phee. Thanks, Congressman.
        And let me say it was terrific to have you on that trip for
    many reasons but including to demonstrate congressional
    interest in and support for Africa.
        President Ruto, as you recall in his inaugural speech,
    asked President Kenyatta whom he succeeded to take on regional
    leadership roles, which he has done very effectively. He played
    a critical role in helping the Ethiopians reach a cessation of
    hostilities and begin to take additional steps that are
    required to resolve that conflict. He has also been actively
    involved in the eastern DRC, trying to stop the conflict that
    is disrupting so many lives there. And they are working
    together well. President Ruto, himself, when he was in Sharm El
    Sheikh, hosted a meeting of leaders to try and address the
    conflict in eastern DRC. So we see good coordination between
    the incumbent and his predecessor.
        And we continue to work closely with Kenya in the fight
    against Al-Shabaab, and we are also working--and I will let Dr.
    Monde speak about this more--to help Kenya and other countries
    in the Horn deal with this historic 4-year drought.
        Ambassador Whitman is mobilizing U.S. trade and investment,
    trying to help the Kenyan economy continue to flourish, and we
    are working very closely on food security matters because
    Kenya, like many African countries, is suffering from the
    consequences of the Russian war.
        So all in all, we have a robust, productive partnership,
    and we are immensely appreciative of Kenya's leadership in the
    region.
        Thank you.
        Mr. Allred. Dr. Monde, anything to add?
        Ms. Muyangwa. No. Thank you very much.
        It was a pleasure to travel with you to Kenya, and just
    echoing the assistant secretary's words about how important
    your presence there was to show support for the Kenyan people
    as they made this very, very important transition.
        So we are working with Kenya in a number of ways to add on
    to what the assistant secretary said. Part of it is continuing
    to work with Kenya on strengthening governance, strengthening
    devolution, strengthening citizen participation in the economy.
    We are working--and governance. Working with Kenya on food
    security issues. We know there is a looming drought in the Horn
    of Africa, and Kenya has about 4.5 million people who are under
    threat for severe food insecurity in 2023 if the long rains do
    not come.
        So we are working with Kenya on a number of fronts, and
    they will continue to be an important partner for us.
        Mr. Allred. Well, thank you both for your services. My
    pleasure to travel with you, and it was an honor to be there on
    behalf of the United States, and it was an inspiring trip. And
    I am glad that our cooperation is continuing.
        And I will yield back, Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you.
        The chair now recognizes Representative Mast of Florida for
    5 minutes.
        Mr. Mast. Thank you, Chairman.
        Ms. Phee, everybody, thank you for your testimoneys today.
    Appreciate that.
        I want to speak to you a little bit about our funding,
    United Nations, if we are getting our money's worth, how you
    see leveraging the support that we give to Africa. As a whole,
    I want to say it is between 25 and 30 percent of the United
    Nation's delegation is made up of African countries. We provide
    somewhere $8 billion plus a year to African nations. Do you
    think that we are leveraging that appropriately in terms of
    getting them to support United States' priorities within the
    United Nations, or where do you think that is lacking?
        Ms. Phee. As in all things, the record is a bit mixed.
    Generally speaking, in the Security Council, the current
    African members have voted in support of the United States. You
    know, there are many ways in which we engage in the United
    Nation's system. African leaders overwhelmingly supported the
    U.S. candidate for that obscure U.N. agency, the International
    Telecommunications Union, which will have an outside impact on
    internet governance globally. So that was a very positive
    outcome.
        We work very hard to have African support in the U.N. Human
    Rights Council. And, in fact, African support was critical to
    getting a commission for the atrocities that have taken place
    in Ethiopia during the recent conflicts.
        We do not always succeed in getting the high numbers that
    we would like in terms of our policy goals, whether they
    particularly regard to Russia or China. However, on many of the
    resolutions related to Ukraine, Africans provided majority
    support.
        So we also, as you know, contribute very much to Africa
    through the international humanitarian organizations, such as
    the World Health Organization, the FAO, WFP. And we are also a
    big supporter for peacekeeping missions on the continent.
        So we are engaged both externally providing support to the
    U.N. system to Africa and encouraging the African voice to
    support U.S. priorities at different voting bodies in the
    system.
        Mr. Mast. Where would you put the total number of USAID to
    Africa at when you add up all of those items?
        Ms. Phee. I would have to come back to that to make sure
    that I give you a reasonable range, but it is significant if
    that is your point. If you consider, for example, as you said,
    that we give about 28 percent in support of each peacekeeping
    mission as well as each political mission in Africa, our
    contribution is significant.
        Mr. Mast. Where do you think that has paid off the most?
    And where do you think--I will let you cough on a minute. Take
    a drink if you need.
        Where do you think that is paying off the most, where we
    are getting our money's worth? And where do you think they are
    lagging behind? Who do you think is in jeopardy of saying, yes,
    we do not think you are a good use of U.S. taxpayer dollars to
    support?
        Ms. Phee. I do not view it in strictly transactional terms.
    I think it is an art----
        Mr. Mast. Why not.
        Ms. Phee. Because I believe the United States' role as a
    leader and as a model is more complex, and I find it is often
    effective if we work in partnership. So there are some
    instances where being transactional is appropriate, but not in
    all instances.
        Mr. Mast. OK. Who would you say is not pulling their
    weight?
        Ms. Phee. You mean in Africa?
        Mr. Mast. Yes.
        Ms. Phee. I would say Eritrea is a good example. Eritrea
    votes universally with Russia.
        Mr. Mast. That you would like us to, you know, look at in a
    more pinpointed way as members of the Foreign Affairs
    Committee, what would be helpful that we looked at in a more
    pinpointed way with Eritrea?
        Ms. Phee. With regard to the U.N. system?
        Mr. Mast. Correct.
        Ms. Phee. I think we are collectively facing a challenge in
    certain peacekeeping missions in Africa. I would site the
    Central African Republic and Mali are good examples where the
    Wagner Group is present. So you have a member of the P5
    actively undermining a Security Council authorized peacekeeping
    mission.
        The President, as you saw in September, highlighted the
    importance of revitalizing the U.N. charter principles of
    territorial integrity and sovereignty. The actions of the
    Wagner Group undermine those and other principles. So that is a
    challenge we are facing collectively.
        Mr. Mast. Let me ask you very quickly. Because the idea of
    transactional is very important, and while I have a few more
    seconds just to ask you, where do you think Russia and China
    are doing it successfully? Where do they have an advantage with
    some of those nations that they are getting a better
    transaction than the United States of America?
        Ms. Phee. I do not think they universally succeed. They
    certainly try, and they do not succeed in part because they
    present on long-term transactional terms.
        Mr. Mast. Thank you, ma'am. Appreciate it.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you so much.
        And I would just maybe add briefly that, remember, the aid
    that we provide is mostly for people, not for governments. And
    so to the extent we are going to be transactional, it would be
    the aid to the governments, not the vast majority of the aid
    that USAID provides, which is to help save lives.
        I will now recognize Representative Meuser of Pennsylvania
    for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Meuser. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much to
    our witnesses, Secretary, Director.
        So economic growth and maximizing of a country's natural
    resources usually leads to improved economies and quality of
    life. 13 percent of the world's natural gas is in the continent
    of Africa; 7 percent of the oil reserves, with Nigeria being
    the largest of all. Africa, for instance, has 620 trillion
    cubic feet of natural gas. Marcellus Shale, which is primarily
    in Pennsylvania, has 410, so quite a quit less, almost 50
    percent less. 43 percent of the--meanwhile, 43 percent of the
    African population lacks access to electricity, and most of
    that, nearly--most of that is in the Sub-Saharan Africa which
    we are discussing.
        So now at the same time African nations argue that they
    need investment to develop their energy resources, and they
    very often strongly mention oil and natural gas.Senegal
    president, almost a year ago, Macky Sall, stated plans by some
    countries to end the financing of natural gas exploration will
    prove a fatal blow to several emerging African economies.
        Recently African Development Bank president Adesina stated
    that Africa must have natural gas to complement its renewable
    energies.
        Just a few days ago I had a conversation in a hearing with
    one of the heads of the Development Finance Corporation, DFC,
    and they were very strongly stating how their investments were
    for all of the above, and they meant that very technically, not
    interested really in natural gas and oil.
        So there is some real problems here because--and then you
    have John Kerry who recently stated he is willing to admit that
    natural gas is an acceptable transitory transitional energy
    which, OK, transitions, but there is timeframes on transitions.
    My timeframe is a lot longer than John Kerry's. They are
    looking at a 7-year transition, as you well know, to 2030. That
    requires the heavy hand of government, not so much the
    innovation of the private sector. And the heavy hand of
    government, let's face it, very rarely works throughout
    history.
        So, you know, I do realize this is why the Administration
    refuses to issue 97 percent of the infrastructure permits here
    in the United States, but it is a losing plan because, A, it's
    very harmful to those people who make up the African nations,
    but it is also losing plan because the EU and China are, in
    fact, making these investments. And in the meanwhile, African
    nations are turning to coal in mass quantities because of our
    ideological narrowness and sense of urgency on all of the above
    and not considering any of the below.
        So, you know, from the USAID standpoint, how are you
    looking at this? And, Director, you were mentioning earlier
    about energies and how important that is. So if you wouldn't
    mind commenting on what I just stated, Director, please.
        Ms. Muyangwa. No. Thank you so much for that question,
    Representative Meuser.
        So from a USAID perspective, what we do is take a country-
    by-country, project-by-project approach when we are evaluating
    energy projects. So we look at whether--how we move forward to
    advance global and national climate goals. But at the same time
    within our systems, we work to ensure that while we are taking
    back renewable energy first approach, that we also are able to
    consider carbon intensive projects where the less carbon
    intensive ones would not make sense for development goals.
        I do not know if that speaks directly to your question. So
    we do have the ability to assess on a country by country. It is
    not a one-size-approach-fits-all approach.
        Mr. Meuser. I appreciate that.
        Do you know that the Belt and Road, the China investments,
    are overtaking our investments in the--particularly when it
    comes to natural gas in African nations? Is that something,
    Secretary or Director, you can comment on? And I am just about
    out of time.
        Maybe you can get back to me. I would appreciate that.
        And, please, this is very important, so I hope we can have
    more of an open mind, as well as a more logical approach to
    energy resources.
        I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you.
        The chair now recognizes Representative Omar of Minnesota
    for 5 minutes.
        Ms. Omar. Thank you, Chair.
        Assistant Secretary Phee, it is good to see you again. I
    wanted to talk to you a little bit about Ethiopia.
        How confident are you that the recent agreement is going to
    hold? If you can talk a little bit about Eritrea's role. We
    notice that the peace deal does not mention them. And what do
    you think the assessment is in obtaining that peace or
    sustaining that peace?
        Ms. Phee. Hi. Thank you.
        I think identifying Eritrea as the weakness of the
    challenge in front of us is absolutely correct. The agreement
    refers to foreign forces, and last week in Nairobi where there
    was further elaboration of the mechanisms of implementing the
    agreed cessation of hostilities withdrawal of foreign forces
    and restoration of humanitarian assistance and services, there
    were--the modalities were beginning to be discussed. The AU is
    also charged with setting up a border monitoring mechanism that
    would also facilitate the withdrawal and the monitoring of the
    withdrawal of Eritrean troops.
        I am confident that the people of Ethiopia, all of the
    people, all of the different communities do not want this
    destruction and death that they have been suffering from for
    more than 2 years. And I am hopeful that with the support of
    the African Union, Kenya, South Africa, and the leaders of the
    government, and the TPLF who have made courageous decisions to
    move forward on the negotiated path, with support from the
    United States and other members of the international community,
    that we can be successful in that and implementing the
    agreement.
        Ms. Omar. And how do you see the United States' role in
    justice and accountability?
        Ms. Phee. As you know, it is most important to come from
    the people themselves. They have told us that they are
    interested in pursuing accountability. The Minister of Justice
    from the Government of Ethiopia has briefed the diplomatic
    corps that that is something the government intends to pursue.
        In the conversations that the Secretary has had, that
    Ambassador Hammer has had, that I have had, with the parties,
    we have made clear, in order to restore the full partnership
    that we previously enjoyed with Ethiopia, we would need to see
    action on accountability, not only because of our values but
    because Ethiopia won't be able to progress if they do not
    resolve the deep divisions that have been created by these
    acts.
        Ms. Omar. And if you can go back a little bit to Eritrea. I
    previously talked to you about the possibility of Somali troops
    being trained there. I know when we previously spoke, you said
    you couldn't confirm. It has now been confirmed that there are
    5,000 Somali soldiers that have been trained. The President of
    Somalia says he does not have the resources to bring them back.
        Is there a role for the United States to assist? I know
    that the ask was made.
        Ms. Phee. That subject is under discussion and also
    discussion with other regional and international partners, such
    as the Emiratis and the Qataris and the Turks, who you know are
    also engaged in providing security assistance to Somalia.
        I think one question that we do not know the answer to is
    were any of those troops involved in the recent conflict, which
    would, of course, not be an encouraging sign for their
    engagement in Somalia. So that remains an open question that we
    need to resolve before we would move forward.
        Ms. Omar. Is there an assessment being done on whether they
    participated in any of the atrocities that you speak of?
        Ms. Phee. There are efforts underway to determine that, but
    as you know, we have very limited visibility or opportunity to
    understand exactly what is happening in Eritrea.
        Ms. Omar. Assistant Administrator Muyangwa, I wanted to
    talk to you a little bit about the famine in Somalia. As you
    know, there is looming famine taking place in Somalia at the
    moment.
        How much money is still needed at the international level
    in order to prevent famine in Somalia in 2023?
        Ms. Muyangwa. Thank you very much for that question. Based
    on our assessment and the international community's assessment
    that money to Ethiopia for humanitarian assistance in that
    space will run out in early 2023. I think it is May, April----
        Ms. Omar. You mean Somalia?
        Ms. Muyangwa. Somalia, sorry.
        Ms. Omar. OK.
        Ms. Muyangwa. It is early April or May 2023. And so there
    is absolutely a need to marshal the international community as
    well as other partners.
        Ms. Omar. Is the Administration making a specific ask as we
    do our last budget?
        Ms. Muyangwa. I am not sure what the numbers are, but we
    can check on that and provide that figure to you. But I believe
    there has been an ask, but I would have to confirm that.
        Ms. Omar. Oh, wonderful. I know I am out of time, but I
    would love to know what that number is so that we can push it
    here in Congress as well. Thank you both.
        I yield back.
        Mr. Malinowski [presiding]. Thank you so much.
        We are just about at the end. We are going to do two more
    members, just so you can calibrate, beginning with
    Representative Meijer of Michigan for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Meijer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our
    witnesses. And, Assistant Secretary McPhee, it is good to--
    Phee, not McPhee--I want to--yes, it is wonderful to see you
    again.
        You were starting to mention the Wagner Group earlier, and
    I think for some Americans, the recent sledgehammer execution
    video of a former Wagner Group mercenary in Ukraine by his
    colleagues who accused him of betraying them was a stark
    reminder of some of the violence this group has perpetrated,
    you know, in Ukraine since 2014, and most, you know,
    dramatically since the February invasion, but also throughout
    Africa that I think slides a little bit more under the radar.
        And with that sledgehammer execution video, I think Yevgeny
    Prigozhin said, you know, a dog receives a dog's death, so not
    exactly backing away from the brutality that we saw witnessed,
    but contrasting that with the, you know, dozens confirmed, but
    more likely hundreds, of civilian fatalities that the Wagner
    Group is responsible for, fighting alongside Malian forces,
    some of their work in the Central African Republic, a bit less
    of a clear line on their work in Libya and Mozambique as well.
        Can you speak to the current status of this
    Administration's views on the Wagner Group? I know there has
    been some discussion on the possibility of them being listed as
    a foreign terrorist organization, you know, by the State
    Department, getting on that FTO list. Can you speak to where
    that stands right now and what impact a potential FTO inclusion
    might have?
        Ms. Phee. Thanks for raising this issue because it is such
    a concern for Africans and, therefore, for us. Ambassador
    O'Brien would probably be the better source of information
    about what would be next in terms of FTO.
        You know, we have sanctioned Prigozhin and that we are
    working in tandem with the EU, for example, on other parallel
    sanctions.
        Under Secretary Nuland recently traveled with an
    interagency group to the Sahel. She made very clear to the
    authorities in Mali that they would have no prospect of ever
    resuming a relationship with us if they did not cut that
    relationship with Wagner. She also engaged the transition
    authorities in Burkina Faso, to urge them not to respond to
    Wagner overtures.
        And in the Central African Republic as well we continue to
    press firmly and to mobilize our partners active there. But we
    will come back to you on the FTO thing. That is in the
    sanctions world.
        Mr. Meijer. Fair enough. And I guess one thing that has
    also been a little striking to me, I mean, Wagner Group has
    been going around Russian prisons, at least according to open
    source reporting, going around to Russian prisons, trying to
    recruit convicts, you know, promising them a get-out-of-jail-
    free card. Not the best deal in the world because that get-out-
    of-jail-free card goes through, you know, a meat grinder in
    Ukraine. But at the same time, they seem to be very hard up for
    personnel to support the Russian invasion and occupying forces
    there. They do not seem to be reducing, at least from what I
    have seen, their operations throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Can
    you speak to how that has maybe--square that circle a little
    bit.
        Ms. Phee. It is one of the reasons why they are so
    dangerous in Africa, because they are extracting resources from
    African countries and funneling them back to Moscow. So that is
    why it is so bad for Africa, right? Then they do not control
    their own resources and develop their own country.
        So that is our assessment, that that line of resourcing is
    one of the reasons that they have kept the footholds that they
    have maintained so far on the continent.
        Mr. Meijer. And, you know, I have returned from a
    congressional delegation with Chairman Meeks to the South
    Pacific, and obviously a very different competitive landscape
    there. And I know this is important to the chairman, I think it
    is important to many of us on this committee, is making sure we
    are not leaving any territory up for grabs, that there aren't
    countries who have one offer on the table and it is not from
    the U.S.
        We are already going to be hamstrung because we actually
    abide by the rule of law, because we believe in international
    institutions, because we are not in the business of bribing or
    threatening or cajoling the leaders of these countries in ways
    that the Russians have no issue doing, the Chinese have no
    issue doing.
        A lot of the mal actors in the world are able to take
    advantage, you know, of that position. And I am proud of how
    the U.S. acts and how the U.S. operates, but making sure that,
    as the chairman mentioned in his opening remarks earlier, that
    we are, as a committee, doing everything we can to support
    engagement and a presence and making sure that we are not
    leaving any territory or any country feeling like there is only
    one offer on the table and it is coming from countries that
    they would prefer not to work with, because they know that what
    will be demanded of them in that transactional relationship
    will be required to be extracted from their country, is simply
    too high a price to say.
        So, with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you.
        And finally, we will turn to Representative Young Kim of
    California for 5 minutes.
        Mrs. Kim of California. Thank you, Chairman. And I want to
    thank our Assistant Secretary Phee and Assistant Administrator
    Muyangwa.
        Huawei is very active in Sub-Saharan Africa and presents
    the United States with a significant obstacle to overcoming our
    efforts to promote secure global telecommunications and to
    compete with the CCP's malign influence on the continent.
    Huawei has built around 70 percent of Africa's 4G networks, and
    they intend to complete control over 5G networks in Africa. So
    I want to ask you what the State Department and USAID's
    strategy for promoting secure global telecommunications
    infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa is.
        Ms. Phee. Thank you for highlighting that challenge that
    the Chinese face and we face in terms of our partnership with
    Africa.
        The State Department has recently established a new Bureau
    of Cyber Digital Policy, in part, to help us attack this
    challenge. We are also looking at mobilizing additional funds,
    which Dr. Monde can also speak about, in terms of a digital
    Africa program that we would discuss at the upcoming leaders
    summit.
        We really want to work on making sure that the software, if
    you will, is secure and that governing rules are important. I
    mentioned earlier that we had mounted a successful campaign to
    have an American lead the U.N. body that sets internet rules,
    and we want to help build the capacity of African governments
    and societies, ensure that they have an internet that helps
    them develop their economies and is secure.
        Ms. Muyangwa. Thank you so much for that question. Adding
    on to what Assistant Secretary Phee mentioned, so the Digital
    Africa initiative really speaks to the key concerns that you
    have raised here today, and we expect to unveil that at the
    upcoming African Leaders Summit.
        In addition to that, USAID is also working on very specific
    digital governance issues that speak to both misinformation and
    disinformation that tends to hollow out governance institutions
    but also hampers social cohesion in communities. We are also
    working to ensure that there is adequate legislation, to
    promote not just internet freedom but also protect rights on
    and offline.
        So there is quite a lot that we are doing in that space,
    and we will be happy to provide you with more details.
        Mrs. Kim of California. Sure. Can you talk about the
    challenges the United States faces in promoting private U.S.
    investment in securing the telecommunications infrastructure,
    and what is the Administration's plan for addressing those
    challenges and bringing the U.S. private sector investment into
    Sub-Saharan Africa?
        Ms. Phee. We have talked in this hearing about the
    importance of increasing private sector investment in Africa,
    and that is a twofold process. We can do more to help identify
    opportunities for American companies, but--and particularly in
    our role engaging with governments.
        We also need to press African governments to take steps
    that ensure that they have a more predictable, transparent
    operating environment so our business feels confident that they
    can repatriate their earnings, if there are disagreements, they
    can be resolved through a reliable judicial process, and other
    such elements of a good operating environment.
        So it is a bit of push and pull. We need to do more, and
    they need to do better to attract investment.
        Mrs. Kim of California. Thank you. I do want to get to
    getting your readout on Secretary Blinken's recent trip to
    Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. That was in response
    to rising violation--I mean, yes, violence in eastern DRC
    between government forces and M23 forces. So can you give us a
    readout on that?
        Ms. Phee. Definitely one of the main reasons he visited
    both Kinshasa and Kigali was to try and offer our good offices
    to help reduce the tensions between the two governments and
    stop the M23 activity.
        We also wanted to encourage really dynamic African
    diplomacy. So the east African community, under the leadership
    of President Kenyatta, is working on a two-track process,
    bringing in troops to try and stop M23's advance, and
    sponsoring a negotiation track with the armed groups in eastern
    Congo, including M23.
        The Angolans are also actively engaged trying to help
    support. They previously ran a process known as the Great Lakes
    process. And the Southern Africans, as part of the South
    African Development Community are also engaged. The U.N. is
    engaged.
        So the situation is not good. Hundreds of thousands of
    Congolese have been displaced by M23's unacceptable offensive,
    but I am encouraged by regional efforts which we are attempting
    to support.
        Mrs. Kim of California. Thank you very much. My time is up.
        Mr. Malinowski. Thank you so much.
        Member questions are now concluded. So, in closing, I
    wanted to thank both of you, Assistant Administrator Muyangwa
    and, of course, Assistant Secretary Phee, for your work on
    behalf of our country, your patience with us today, for
    answering all of the questions and committing to answer the
    ones that you couldn't today in the coming days.
        We ask a lot of you. We ask you to resolve these conflicts
    and advance human rights and promote American investment and to
    compete with our adversaries that are also looking to exercise
    malign influence in Africa.
        We actually owe you something, which is to continue to
    provide the resources that you need to actually do those
    things, and I hope all of us, on a bipartisan basis. I think
    what we see from this hearing is a great interest in
    maintaining and enhancing American leadership in Africa. I hope
    we will all continue to work together to ensure that you have
    the resources to do that effectively.
        With that, the hearing is adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 1:43 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]

                                    APPENDIX

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