[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 4, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S781-S783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 65--SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO BRING AN END TO VIOLENCE 
  PERPETRATED BY BOKO HARAM, AND URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO 
         CONDUCT TRANSPARENT, PEACEFUL, AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Coons, Mr. Isakson, Mr. 
Boozman, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 65

       Whereas Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa, with 
     the largest economy;
       Whereas the Governments of the United States and Nigeria 
     have had a strong bilateral relationship, and Nigeria has 
     been a valued partner of the United States since its 
     transition to civilian rule;
       Whereas the Government of Nigeria is currently confronted 
     with threats to internal security by terrorists, insurgents, 
     and communal violence that have caused considerable 
     population displacement, and at the same time must administer 
     transparent and peaceful elections with a credible outcome;
       Whereas the government and those who aspire to hold office 
     in Nigeria must demonstrate the political will to address 
     both of these challenges in a responsible way, including by 
     ensuring full enfranchisement, with particular emphasis on 
     developing a means for enfranchisement for the hundreds of 
     thousands displaced by violence;
       Whereas the members of Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati 
     wal-Jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram, have terrorized the 
     people of Nigeria with increasing violence since 2009, 
     targeting military, government, and civilian sites in 
     Nigeria, including schools, mosques, churches, markets, 
     villages, and agricultural centers, and killing thousands and 
     abducting hundreds of civilians in Nigeria and the 
     surrounding countries;
       Whereas the Department of State named several individuals 
     linked to Boko Haram, including its leader, Abubakar Shekau, 
     as Specially Designated Global Terrorists in 2012, and 
     designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization 
     (FTO) in November 2013;
       Whereas, in May 2014, the United Nations Security Council 
     added Boko Haram to its al Qaeda sanctions list, and on 
     January 19, 2015, the United Nations Security Council issued 
     a presidential statement condemning the recent escalation of 
     attacks in northeastern Nigeria and surrounding countries and 
     expressing concern that the situation was undermining peace 
     and security in West and Central Africa;
       Whereas the over 200 school girls abducted by Boko Haram on 
     April 14, 2014, from the Government Girls Secondary School in 
     the northeastern state of Borno, whose kidnapping sparked 
     domestic and international outrage spawning the Twitter 
     campaign #BringBackOurGirls, are still missing;
       Whereas the militant group is an increasing menace to the 
     countries along Nigeria's northeastern border, prompting the 
     African Union, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the European 
     Union, and the United Nations Security Council to recognize 
     that there must be a regional response;
       Whereas the United States Government has stepped forward to 
     offer assistance through intelligence sharing, bilateral and 
     international sanctioning of Boko Haram leaders, 
     counterterrorism assistance through the Global Security 
     Contingency Fund program for countries in the region to 
     counter the militant group, and humanitarian services to 
     populations affected by and vulnerable to Boko Haram 
     violence;
       Whereas Boko Haram emerged partially as a response to 
     underdevelopment in northeastern Nigeria, and inequality, 
     elite impunity, and alleged human rights abuses by security 
     forces may be fueling anti-government sentiment;
       Whereas it is clear that a military approach alone will not 
     eliminate the threat of Boko Haram, and gross human rights 
     abuses and atrocities by security forces causes insecurity 
     and mistrust among the civilian population;
       Whereas it is imperative that the Government of Nigeria 
     implement a comprehensive, civilian security focused plan 
     that prioritizes protecting civilians and also addresses 
     legitimate political and economic grievances of citizens in 
     northern Nigeria;
       Whereas Nigeria is scheduled to hold national elections in 
     February 2015, and the elections appear to be the most 
     closely contested in Nigeria since the return to civilian 
     rule;
       Whereas election-related violence has occurred in Nigeria 
     in successive elections, including in 2011, when nearly 800 
     people died in clashes following the presidential election;
       Whereas President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, General 
     Muhammadu Buhari, and other presidential candidates pledged 
     to reverse this trend by signing the ``Abuja Accord'' on 
     January 14, 2015, in which they committed themselves and 
     their campaigns to refraining from public statements that 
     incite violence, to running issue-based campaigns that do not 
     seek to divide citizens along religious or ethnic lines, and 
     to supporting the impartial conduct of the electoral 
     commission and the security services;
       Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry visited Nigeria on 
     January 25, 2015, to emphasize the importance of ensuring the 
     upcoming elections are peaceful, nonviolent, and credible;
       Whereas tensions in the country remain high, and either 
     electoral fraud or violence could undermine the credibility 
     of the upcoming election;
       Whereas the people of Nigeria aspire for a fair, 
     competently executed, and secure electoral process, as well 
     as an outcome that can be accepted peacefully by all 
     citizens; and
       Whereas it is in the best interest of the United States to 
     maintain close ties with a politically stable, democratic and 
     economically sound Nigeria: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns Boko Haram for its violent attacks, 
     particularly the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, 
     especially women and girls, and the use of children as 
     fighters and suicide bombers;
       (2) stands with--
       (A) the people of Nigeria in their right to live free from 
     fear or intimidation by state or nonstate actors, regardless 
     of their ethnic, religious, or regional affiliation;
       (B) the people of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger who are 
     increasingly at risk of becoming victims of Boko Haram's 
     violence; and
       (C) the international community in its efforts to defeat 
     Boko Haram;

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       (3) supports the Abuja Accord, and calls on candidates, 
     party officials, and adherents of all political movements to 
     comply with the code of conduct spelled out therein, by 
     refraining from any rhetoric or action that seeks to demonize 
     or delegitimize opponents, sow division among Nigerians, or 
     otherwise inflame tensions;
       (4) condemns any and all abuses of civilians by security 
     forces of the Government of Nigeria;
       (5) urges the Government of Nigeria--
       (A) to conduct timely, credible, transparent, and peaceful 
     elections;
       (B) to refrain from using security services for political 
     purposes in connection with the elections;
       (C) to prioritize the safety and security of Nigerians 
     vulnerable to Boko Haram attacks;
       (D) to implement a comprehensive, civilian security focused 
     response to defeat Boko Haram that addresses political and 
     economic grievances of citizens in the north;
       (E) to improve the capacity and conduct of Nigeria's 
     security forces, including respect for human rights, and take 
     steps to hold accountable through a transparent process those 
     members of the security forces responsible for abuses;
       (F) to recognize that security forces are intended to 
     protect the safety and security of all citizens equally; and
       (G) to cooperate with regional and international partners 
     to defeat Boko Haram;
       (6) urges all Nigerians to engage in the electoral process, 
     to insist on full enfranchisement, and to reject inflammatory 
     or divisive rhetoric or actions; and
       (7) reaffirms that the people of the United States will 
     continue to stand with the people of Nigeria in support of 
     peace and democracy.

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I am here today to speak to the 
troubling situation in Nigeria, one of our strongest allies in Africa 
since its transition from military dictatorship to civilian rule over a 
decade ago.
  Nigeria is currently facing two grave threats to its stability. 
First, the country is preparing to vote next month in the most closely 
contested presidential election in recent history, but there is a very 
real danger of prolonged violence across Nigeria and mass casualties if 
the election results are not deemed credible.
  Second, in the last 2 months, Boko Haram, infamous for kidnapping 
over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014, has stepped up its murderous 
scorched-earth campaign, killing thousands of innocent civilians, 
gaining control over an increasing amount of territory in the 
northeastern portion of the country, and threatening to disrupt 
elections.
  It is in the face of these dual challenges, that I, along with 
Senators Isakson, Shaheen, Boozman and Coons, have submitted a 
resolution which calls on Nigerian leaders to step-up to the plate and 
show real leadership in prioritizing the safety and security of 
Nigerians in the elections and doing everything possible to combat Boko 
Haram.
  For over 5 years, Boko Haram has shocked the conscience of the world 
and terrorized Nigerian citizens of all religions and ethnic groups. It 
has targeted schools, mosques, churches, markets, villages and 
agricultural centers with a wave of kidnappings, killings and suicide 
bombs. Boko Haram terrorists have abducted hundreds, including the 
Chibok girls, who to this day remain missing; and has killed 
thousands--by some accounts over 6,000 last year alone and, since 2009, 
more than a million have been displaced.
  In January, Boko Haram staged a 4 day assault on the northeastern 
town of Baga, abducting civilians, and forcing thousands to flee. 
Eyewitnesses claim as many as 2000 dead, though the government disputes 
this number. Satellite photographs show disturbing images of towns 
burned and razed. What began as a localized insurgency that targeted 
the military and government has grown into a sub-regional menace. Boko 
Haram has metastasized, effectively denying the government control over 
a significant swathe of territory in the three most affected states of 
northeast Nigeria, and undertaking bold incursions into neighboring 
countries. The Nigerian government's response has been ineffective at 
best. At worst, the actions of the security forces, who have been 
accused of alarming excesses, may have exacerbated the problem. These 
are things the Nigerian government must acknowledge and address if they 
want to end the reign of Boko Haram in communities most affected by the 
terrorist group.
  The international community, the African Union, European Union, the 
Lake Chad Basin Commission, and United Nations Security Council--have 
all recognized that there must be a regional response to Boko Haram. On 
January 26, AU Commission Chairwoman Dlamini Zuma said that Boko Haram 
is a threat to the whole continent. Just days ago, the AU Peace and 
Security Council approved a 7500 strong regional force to combat the 
group. Recent U.S. efforts to provide assistance have been unilaterally 
rebuffed. Clearly, the international community is concerned and 
engaged. What is not so clear is the commitment of the Nigerian 
government to a thoughtful strategy of engagement.
  During my meeting with President Jonathan at last year's African 
Leaders' Summit, I urged him to implement a comprehensive approach to 
address the Boko Haram insurgency--one that addresses both the security 
threat as well as the legitimate grievances of local communities. At 
the end of the day, Nigerian officials must come to terms with the fact 
that a military solution alone will not solve the problem. To date, the 
government does not appear to have formulated a comprehensive strategy, 
and as a result, the insurgency continues to gain momentum.
  Against this backdrop of government inaction and Boko Haram's 
unspeakable terrorism raging in the north, presidential elections are 
scheduled for February 14. For the first time since Nigeria 
transitioned from military rule to democracy in 1999, a unified 
opposition party will challenge the ruling People's Democratic Party, 
PDP. This election will test the strength of an electoral process that 
has been marred by violence. In 2011, more than 800 people were killed 
in clashes that followed what international observers deemed to be the 
most free, fair, and best-administered elections to date.
  Despite the history of electoral violence, the Nigerian Government 
has yet to implement reforms recommended by the Independent National 
Electoral Commission, INEC. INEC itself has taken a number of steps to 
improve the legitimacy of the voting process, including conducting 
widespread voter registration programs and introducing biometric voter 
identification cards. INEC is engaged in a valiant effort to distribute 
permanent voter cards in time for next month's elections, and we should 
continue to support such efforts until the job is done to protect the 
legitimacy and integrity of the elections.
  National Security Advisor Sambo Dasuki has said the voter card 
distribution is too slow, and recently suggested that the elections be 
postponed. I think this suggestion has understandably raised suspicion 
and skepticism as to his motives and those of the PDP given that the 
race between President Jonathan and his challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, 
is by all accounts close to a dead heat. It is true, however, that 
increasing violence in three northern states threatens to 
disenfranchise a significant number of voters. And it is unclear how 
those who have been internally displaced will be given the opportunity 
to vote. In my view, there must be an effort to develop a consensus 
about how these twin challenges should be addressed or Nigerians may 
well dispute the results.
  The two leading presidential candidates have made a public commitment 
to non-violence during the elections. They should be commended for 
their verbal assurances, and they should be held responsible if they 
renege. As Secretary Kerry said in Lagos at the end of last month, 
``the international community is paying very close attention to this 
election.''
  Nigeria has the largest economy and is the most populous country in 
Africa. So goes, Nigeria, so goes West Africa. We cannot, from a 
strategic standpoint, afford for it to fail. That is why the 
international community must continue to urge Nigerian political 
leaders to listen to all voices, regardless of ethnic, religious, or 
regional affiliation, and to safeguard the right of the Nigerian people 
to shape their own destiny.

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