Chairman McCaul Questions State Department Undersecretary John Bass at Full Committee Hearing on Great Power Competition in Africa

Washington, D.C. - Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul questioned Under Secretary of State John Bass about the importance of countering the Chinese Communist Party and terrorism in Africa.

WATCH HERE

- Highlights from Chairman McCaul's Questioning -

Chairman McCaul: Ranking Member [Meeks] and I on most days work very well [together], the [Development Finance Corporation] is a good example. We [passed a bill out of this committee to] reauthorize it…it's so vitally important to counter China but also to strengthen our economic ties with Africa. The Lobito Corridor is really the only success story I see. It's about a $500 million loan. Can you discuss other projects that are underway in Africa that we should be focused on?

Undersecretary Bass: I think it's important, Mr. Chairman, to look at the portfolios of both the Development Finance Corporation and the [Millennium Challenge Corporation], in this larger context. Four of the ten largest portfolios the DFC has are on the continent…In some cases, they dovetail very well with priority countries under the Global Fragility Act. Mozambique is the largest portfolio that the DFC has on the continent and that is not by accident. That is part of using all of our tools to try to get at the most compelling challenges and take advantage of opportunities to build out African-led, African-owned growth and development through the private sector. Similarly, most of the largest MCC compacts are on the continent and that certainly is not by accident.

Chairman McCaul: One disturbing trend I saw was the al-Shabab and the Houthi rebels forging an alliance. Taking an Iranian proxy from that region in the Middle East directly into the African continent. Obviously, a terrorism alliance. As we speak on 9/11, does that concern you?

Undersecretary Bass: Yes, very much so. It's one of the, probably, most compelling examples of why we are so focused on trying to bring the conflict between Israel and Hamas to an early conclusion because of all the unpredictable ripple effects we're seeing. If you contrast the Houthis a year ago, as problematic as they were, their appetite and desire today to be playing a much larger role in the region in a profoundly destabilizing way. It's very concerning to us. We're really focused first and foremost on tracking specific threats and happy to update you in a classified setting. Secondly, very focused on working with our colleagues in the European Union and with other governments on the post [African Union Transition Mission in Somalia] transition in Somali to ensure we can continue to provide key support and enabling elements to allow the Somali Security Forces to continue to hold their ground and not create conditions that would allow al-Shabab to resurge and take a more commanding position throughout Somalia.

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