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Conflict in Mali [Updated January 17, 2020]
From the Document: "Mali has faced severe security and governance challenges since a northern separatist rebellion, an Islamist insurgency, and a military coup shook the country from 2011 to 2013. Security conditions have worsened despite a 2015 peace deal between the government and northern rebels, as an Islamist insurgency has expanded from the north into central Mali, leveraging and fomenting local tensions and resentment toward state actors. Ethnic militias--some of which appear to enjoy state backing or tacit support--have carried out large massacres, contributing to worsening insecurity. Bamako (Figure 1) has also been a target of terrorist attacks, with some targeting Western nationals. Rebel, terrorist, communal defense, and criminal networks are fluid and shifting, complicating conflict resolution."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2020-01-17
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Algeria [Updated December 19, 2019]
From the Document: "Large peaceful protests forced Algeria's long-standing president to resign in early 2019 and continue to prompt questions about the country's political stability and future. Abdelmadjid Tebboune was declared the winner of presidential elections held on December 12, with historically low turnout of 40%. A previous cabinet minister and prime minister (for a short time in 2017), Tebboune ran as an independent and is seen by some observers as close to military leaders; Algeria's two largest political parties endorsed a rival candidate. Protesters have continued to take to the streets, decrying the election process as illegitimate, Tebboune as representing political continuity, and military leaders for steering the transition process in recent months. Dozens of protesters have been arrested since mid-2019 on various, often vague charges. Police and protesters clashed violently on election day."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-12-19
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Statement of Alexis Arieff, Specialist in African Affairs, Before Committee on Oversight and Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, U.S. House of Representatives, Hearing on 'U.S. Counterterrorism Priorities and Challenges in Africa', December 16, 2019
From the Introduction: "Islamist armed groups have proliferated and expanded their geographic presence in sub-Saharan Africa ('Africa,' unless noted) over the past decade. These groups employ terrorist tactics, and several have pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda or the Islamic State (IS, aka ISIS or ISIL) and operate across borders. Most, however, also operate as local insurgent movements that seek to attack and undermine state presence and control. Conflicts involving these groups have caused the displacement of millions of people in Africa and deepened existing development and security challenges. Local civilians and security forces have endured the overwhelming brunt of fatalities, as well as the devastating humanitarian impacts. Somalia, the Lake Chad Basin, and West Africa's Sahel region have been most affected (Figure 1). The Islamic State also has claimed attacks as far afield as eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and northern Mozambique over the past year."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-12-16
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Tunisia: In Brief [Updated November 1, 2019]
From the Document: "Tunisia remains the sole country to have made a durable transition to democracy as a result of the 2011 'Arab Spring.' Tunisians adopted a new constitution in 2014 and have since held two competitive national elections resulting in peaceful transfers of power. At the same time, living standards have worsened for many Tunisians, increasing pressure on political leaders. High unemployment and inflation, unpopular fiscal austerity measures, and concerns about corruption have spurred protests, labor unrest, and a backlash against political elites in recent years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-11-01
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Burkina Faso [Updated October 23, 2019]
From the Document: "Burkina Faso has become a stark symbol of worsening security trends in West Africa's Sahel region, due to an armed conflict that began in 2016. Islamist insurgents-- some of whom have ties to the conflict in neighboring Mali, and to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State--have asserted control over parts of the country and carried out several large attacks in the capital. State security forces and tacitly state-backed militia groups have been accused of severe human rights abuses during counterterrorism operations, including torture and extrajudicial killings."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-10-23
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Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak: Democratic Republic of Congo [September 27, 2019]
From the Document: "The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that began in August 2018 has eluded international containment efforts and posed significant challenges to local and international policymakers. The current outbreak is the 10th and largest on record in DRC, and the world's second largest ever (after the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak). On July 17, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the current DRC outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and called for increased donor funding. To date, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced nearly $158 million to support the response to the outbreak in DRC and neighboring countries, most of which has been funded through USAID-administered International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds appropriated by Congress in FY2015."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Arieff, Alexis
2019-09-27
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U.N. Peacekeeping Operations in Africa [September 23, 2019]
From the Document: "Many Members of Congress have demonstrated an interest in the mandates, effectiveness, and funding status of United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping operations in Africa as an integral component of U.S. policy toward Africa and a key tool for fostering greater stability and security on the continent. [...] The United States, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, plays a key role in establishing, renewing, and funding U.N. peacekeeping operations, including those in Africa. For 2019, the U.N. General Assembly assessed the U.S. share of U.N. peacekeeping operation budgets at 27.89%; since the mid-1990s Congress has capped the U.S. payment at 25% due to concerns that the current assessment is too high. [...] This report focuses on U.N. peacekeeping missions in Africa; it does not address broader policy issues related to U.N. peacekeeping, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), or the U.N. Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchfield, Luisa; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch
2019-09-23
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The Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) [September 3, 2019]
From the Document: "The Republic of Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville (after its capital), is an oil-rich former French colony in central Africa. It has extensive natural resources, but poor governance and civil conflict have long hindered poverty alleviation and development. Heavily reliant on oil exports, the country is struggling to emerge from an economic crisis precipitated by the collapse of global oil prices in 2014. The price shock sent Congo into a deep recession in 2016-2017; it remains in severe debt distress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-09-03
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Conflict in Mali [Updated August 16, 2019]
From the Document: "Mali faces intertwined security and governance challenges. The government signed a peace accord with northern separatist rebels in 2015, but key provisions remain unimplemented. Signatory armed groups continue to assert territorial control in much of the vast desert north. At the same time, Islamist insurgent groups have expanded from the north into previously stable central Mali, leveraging (and fomenting) interethnic violence and local resentment toward state actors to recruit supporters. Islamist extremists have also carried out attacks in and near the capital, Bamako. In the center and northeast, civilian massacres by ethnic militias--some of which appear to have the tacit backing of state actors--have contributed to worsening insecurity. Rebel, terrorist, communal, and criminal armed networks are fluid and shifting, complicating conflict resolution. Some Malians have proposed peace talks with jihadist groups, but the idea remains controversial."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-08-16
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Algeria: In Focus [Updated August 12, 2019]
From the Document: "Large peaceful protests in Algeria have upended the established political order since early 2019 and ushered in a new era of uncertainty. The protests first erupted in February in response to then-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's decision to seek a fifth term despite his evident ill health and advanced age (81 at the time). Bouteflika withdrew his reelection bid in March, then stepped down on April 2 after military chief of staff General Ahmed Gaïd Salah--a onetime ally--called for his impeachment. Elections were originally scheduled for April 2019. Following Bouteflika's resignation, Algeria's parliament recognized Senate leader Abdelkader Bensalah as interim president, with elections to be held within 90 days, in line with constitutional succession provisions. In June, however, Algeria's Constitutional Council canceled elections planned for July 4 after disqualifying the only two candidates who had registered. Protesters have continued to take to the streets to demand more comprehensive political changes, albeit with few signs of consensus over process or outcome."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-08-12
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Ebola Outbreak: Democratic Republic of Congo [Updated July 25, 2019]
From the Document: "Through annual appropriations, Congress provides funds to control infectious disease threats like Ebola. In FY2019, Congress provided $100 million to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $108.2 million to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to global health security and pandemic preparedness. The Trump Administration's FY2020 budget request included $90 million and $100 million for USAID and CDC global health security programs, respectively. Congress also provided over $5 billion in emergency funds in FY2015 for domestic and global efforts to contain the West Africa Ebola outbreak (P.L. 113-235). Some unspent funds are being used to fight the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2019-07-25
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Coup-Related Restrictions in U.S. Foreign Aid Appropriations [Updated July 23, 2019]
From the Document: "Events in 2019 in Sudan and Venezuela have focused renewed attention on a provision that has appeared in annual State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations legislation since 1986 that restricts U.S. foreign assistance following a coup d'état. The provision intends to discourage and express U.S. disapproval of militaries seizing control of governments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Lawson, Marian Leonardo; Chesser, Susan G.
2019-07-23
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Coup-Related Restrictions in U.S. Foreign Aid Appropriations [July 12, 2019]
From the Document: "Events in 2019 in Sudan and Venezuela have focused renewed attention on a provision that has appeared in annual State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations legislation since 1986 that restricts U.S. foreign assistance following a coup d'état. The provision intends to discourage and express U.S. disapproval of militaries seizing control of governments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Lawson, Marian Leonardo; Chesser, Susan G.
2019-07-12
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The Gambia [Updated June 10, 2019]
From the Document: "The Gambia ('Gambia') is a small West African country almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. It underwent a historic transition of power after longtime authoritarian leader Yahya Jammeh unexpectedly lost an election in December 2016. A brief political crisis over Jammeh's refusal to step down was resolved when a regional military intervention forced Jammeh into exile, enabling President-elect Adama Barrow to take office. Barrow's inauguration in early 2017 furthered a trend in which West African heads of state are increasingly chosen through elections. A political newcomer who once worked as a security guard in London, President Barrow has overseen a broad increase in political freedom and improved relations with the international community. Analysts warn that Gambia's progress remains fragile, however. Efforts to advance governance reforms and prosecute abuses committed under the former regime have been slow to advance and could stoke tensions, particularly within the security forces."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-06-10
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Rwanda: In Brief [Updated May 14, 2019]
From the Introduction: "The United States and Rwanda have cultivated close ties since the mid-1990s, underpinned by U.S. aid in support of Rwanda's ambitious socioeconomic development initiatives and participation in international peacekeeping. Over the past decade, U.S. officials and some Members of Congress have continued to promote U.S.-Rwanda partnership on shared objectives, while voicing concerns regarding Rwanda's authoritarian political system and its periodic support for rebel groups in neighboring countries. Congress has held multiple hearings examining these and related issues, and has enacted restrictions on aid to Rwanda if it is found to be supporting rebel groups."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-05-14
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Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated April 30, 2019]
From the Summary: "The United States and other donors have focused substantial resources on stabilizing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the early 2000s, when 'Africa's World War'--a conflict that drew in multiple neighboring countries and reportedly caused millions of deaths-- drew to a close. DRC hosts the world's largest U.N. peacekeeping operation and is a major recipient of donor aid. Conflict has nonetheless persisted in eastern DRC, prolonging instability and an enduring humanitarian crisis in Africa's Great Lakes region. New unrest erupted as elections were repeatedly delayed past 2016, their scheduled date, leaving widely unpopular President Joseph Kabila in office. Security forces brutally cracked down on protests, while new conflicts emerged in previously stable regions, possibly fueled by political interference. An ongoing Ebola outbreak in the east has added to DRC's challenges. In April 2019, the Islamic State organization claimed responsibility for an attack on local soldiers in the Ebola-affected area, an apparent effort to rebrand a local armed group known as the Allied Democratic Forces."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-04-30
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Algeria: In Focus [Updated April 25, 2019]
From the Document: "President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (82) stepped down on April 2, 2019, in the face of large, peaceful protests, ushering in a new era of political uncertainty in Algeria. The protests first erupted in February in opposition to Bouteflika's candidacy for a fifth term, despite his evident ill health and advanced age, in elections originally slated for April. On March 11, Bouteflika had renounced his reelection bid while delaying elections indefinitely pending constitutional and electoral reforms. Protests continued. Bouteflika ultimately stepped down after the military chief of staff, Gen. Ahmed Gaïd Salah--previously viewed as an ally--publicly called for constitutional impeachment procedures."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-04-25
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Crisis in the Central African Republic [April 5, 2019]
From the Document: "Congress has held hearings, appropriated aid funds, and conducted oversight in response to the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), which has experienced state collapse and conflict since a rebel movement known as the Seleka seized control of the government in 2013. Despite a post-rebellion political transition culminating in the 2016 inauguration of a new president, Faustin Archange Touadera (a former Prime Minister who ran as an independent), security and humanitarian conditions have deteriorated. The European Union (EU), U.N., Russia, and the United States are providing support to the national military (the FACA), but state security forces remain weak and dogged by a history of abuses and militia infiltration. Competitions over mineral resources, cattle migration routes, and trade have been key drivers of conflict."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-04-05
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Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated April 3, 2019]
From the Document: "The United States and other donors have focused substantial resources on stabilizing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the early 2000s, when 'Africa's World War'--a conflict that drew in multiple neighboring countries and reportedly caused millions of deaths-- drew to a close. DRC hosts the world's largest U.N. peacekeeping operation and is a major recipient of donor aid. Conflict has nonetheless persisted in eastern DRC, prolonging instability and an enduring humanitarian crisis in Africa's Great Lakes region. New unrest erupted as elections were repeatedly delayed past 2016, their scheduled date, leaving widely unpopular President Joseph Kabila in office. Security forces brutally cracked down on protests, while new conflicts emerged in the central Kasai and southeastern Tanganyika regions, possibly fueled by political interference. An Ebola outbreak in the east has added to DRC's challenges."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-04-03
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Ebola Outbreak: Democratic Republic of Congo [Updated April 2, 2019]
From the Document: "Congress has provided funds to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, including those with pandemic potential like Ebola. From FY2014 through FY2018, Congress provided annually $72.5 million to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for such efforts and increased funding to $100 million in FY2019. From FY2015 to FY2017, Congress appropriated annually $55.1 million to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); in FY2018 and FY2019, it provided $108.2 million; and from FY2008 through FY2020, it authorized an additional $50 million for global health security efforts. The Trump Administration's FY2020 budget request included $90 million and $100 million for USAID and CDC global health security programs, respectively. In FY2015, Congress also provided over $5 billion in emergency funds for domestic and global efforts to contain the 2014-2015 West Africa Ebola outbreak (P.L. 113-235). Some unspent funds have been used to contain two Ebola outbreaks in DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo] since 2018."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2019-04-02
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Algeria: In Focus [Updated March 18, 2019]
From the Document: "A sudden surge of large, peaceful protests opposing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth five-year term in office is bringing questions about Algeria's presidential succession and political future to the fore. President Bouteflika (82) is in evident ill health and has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. On March 11, 2019, he announced in a written statement that he was rescinding his candidacy and that elections slated for April would be delayed indefinitely to allow a 'national conference' to draft a new constitution. Protests have since grown as many demonstrators have interpreted the announcement as unresponsive to their concerns and a de facto unilateral extension of Bouteflika's current term."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-03-18
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Senegal [Updated March 18, 2019]
From the Document: "U.S.-Senegal ties have long been warm, underpinned by U.S. development aid, appreciation for Senegalese democracy, and security cooperation to confront regional challenges. Senegal has never experienced a military coup and exhibits a relatively free press and civil society. Tensions rose, however, in connection with presidential elections held on February 24, 2019, as top opposition contenders were disqualified from running. Local activist groups also came under increased state regulatory pressure. President Macky Sall was ultimately reelected with 58% of the vote, averting a runoff; opposition candidates stated that they rejected the results but declined to challenge them in court. Sall's first term lasted seven years, but a 2016 constitutional referendum shortened the term to five. Poverty remains widespread despite recent growth, and Senegal has been a disproportionate source of illicit (and often dangerous) migration to Europe. A separatist conflict in the southern Casamance region has also impeded local development, but violence has dropped in recent years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-03-18
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Cameroon [Updated March 12, 2019]
From the Document: "Cameroon is a diverse, resource-rich, majority Francophone country bordering the Gulf of Guinea. President Paul Biya, age 86, is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. He was reelected in 2018 and has no clear successor. Cameroon faces security and humanitarian challenges on three fronts: the Nigerian-origin Boko Haram insurgency in the north, a separatist conflict in the Anglophone provinces in the west, and cross-border threats from the Central African Republic (CAR) in the east, where some 275,000 CAR refugees reside. The state's militarized response to Anglophone unrest has inflamed that conflict, while an early 2019 crackdown on Biya's top Francophone political rival may spark a broader crisis. Cameroon also faces wildlife poaching and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-03-12
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Algeria: In Focus [February 26, 2019]
"Algeria's political system, characterized by a strong presidency and security apparatus, has remained stable amid regional upheaval. Internal security has also improved since a decade-long Islamist insurgency and civil conflict in the 1990s. State decisionmaking is often opaque, however, and the country faces an uncertain political transition as members of the 'revolutionary generation' that fought for independence from France retire or pass away. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (81) is in ill health and rarely appears in public. Frequent labor strikes and street protests are often framed around socioeconomic grievances, but in February 2019, large protests against Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office also seemed to convey widespread desire for new leadership among the country's youthful population. Decreased revenues from Algeria's oil and gas exports have arguably constrained the government's options for responding to such unrest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2019-02-26
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Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues and U.S. Engagement [Updated January 15, 2019]
"This report provides an introduction to select issues related to sub-Saharan Africa (henceforth, 'Africa,' unless otherwise noted) and U.S. policy toward the region. It includes general information concerning Africa's economic and development challenges, governance and human rights trends on the continent, and key issues related to peace and security. It also provides an overview of U.S. engagement in Africa and current U.S. policy approaches toward the region. This report is intended to serve as a primer to help inform deliberations on key enduring issues for Congress, which include the authorization and appropriation of funding for U.S. foreign aid programs and U.S. military activities in the region and oversight of U.S. programs and policies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .
2019-01-15
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Failed Coup Attempt in Gabon [January 9, 2019]
"On January 7, a small group of Gabonese soldiers seized the state broadcasting building in Gabon's capital, Libreville, and declared their intention to overthrow the government of President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Within hours, security forces retook the building and put down the coup attempt. The attempt followed months of political uncertainty after the president (aged 59) suffered a stroke in Saudi Arabia in October 2018; he has since remained outside the country and is currently convalescing in Morocco."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-01-09
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Morocco: Background and U.S. Relations [October 26, 2018]
"Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament and local government entities. King Mohammed VI, who inherited the throne in 1999, maintains overarching political authority but has taken some liberalizing steps. In 2011, amid domestic and regional protests, the king introduced a new constitution providing more power to elected officials and expanding individual rights. The monarch nonetheless remains the arbiter of national political decision-making, the head of the military, and--as 'Commander of the Faithful'--the country's highest religious authority. The king's seizure of the initiative in 2011 and quick response to protests arguably helped the monarchy retain its popular legitimacy and stability. In recent years, officials have struggled to respond to resurgent protests and other forms of activism that apparently reflect on going grievances over economic challenges, corruption, and police brutality."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2018-10-26
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Conflict in Mali [September 19, 2018]
"Mali faces intertwined security and governance challenges. The government signed a peace accord with northern separatists in 2015, but key provisions remain unimplemented. Signatory armed groups continue to assert territorial control in much of the vast desert north. At the same time, an Islamist insurgency has spread from the north into previously stable central Mali, where jihadists have leveraged interethnic grievances and local resentment toward state actors. The capital, Bamako, has also been targeted in terrorist attacks. Rebel, terrorist, communal, and criminal networks are fluid and shifting, posing an obstacle to conflict resolution. Some Malians have proposed peace talks with jihadist groups, but the government and Western donors have rejected the idea."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2018-09-19
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Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and U.S. Relations [August 23, 2018]
"In recent years, growing unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has prompted fears of a return to widespread conflict in the heart of Central Africa. Elections due in 2016 have been delayed repeatedly, leaving President Joseph Kabila in office well past the end of his second five year term--arguably his last, under DRC's constitution. DRC has never experienced an electoral transfer of power between presidential administrations. Uncertainty over Kabila's succession has coincided with a surge in armed conflicts throughout the country. State security forces also have violently suppressed anti-Kabila street protests since 2015."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2018-08-23
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Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis: Recent Developments and Issues for Congress [April 6, 2018]
"Tensions have grown in western Cameroon since the government's suppression of a protest movement led by members of the country's minority Anglophone community in late 2016. In 2017, the situation escalated as one Anglophone faction symbolically declared the secession of the region and some Anglophone groups took up arms. While granting minor concessions, the government has arrested dozens of activists and deployed the military to put down unrest. The crisis has heightened historic fissures in Cameroon's diverse society and adds to the country's political and security challenges."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2018-04-06
