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• Cameroon [Updated March 12, 2019]

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  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
• Algeria: In Focus [February 26, 2019]

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  "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
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues and U.S. Engagement [Updated January 15, 2019]

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  "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
• Failed Coup Attempt in Gabon [January 9, 2019]

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  "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
• Morocco: Background and U.S. Relations [October 26, 2018]

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  "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
• Conflict in Mali [September 19, 2018]

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  "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
• Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and U.S. Relations [August 23, 2018]

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  "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
• Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis: Recent Developments and Issues for Congress [April 6, 2018]

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  "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
• Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Related Groups [Updated March 27, 2018]

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  From the Document: "AQIM [Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb], a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), was formed when the Algerian-led Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat formally joined with Al Qaeda and renamed itself in 2006-2007. AQIM's leader reportedly remains in Algeria, but the group's center of gravity has moved southward into West Africa's impoverished Sahel region, and east toward Libya. AQIM has long pursued criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom and smuggling. In recent years, it also has claimed a siege at a gas plant in Algeria (2013) and mass shootings at hotels, restaurants, and resorts in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire (2015-2017). In March 2018, a Mali-based, AQIMaligned coalition claimed a relatively sophisticated attack in Burkina Faso's capital that targeted the military headquarters and the French Embassy."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2018-03-27
• Rwanda: In Brief [February 7, 2018]

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  "Rwanda has achieved a rare degree of political stability, public safety, and economic growth in a sub-region marked by armed conflict and violent power transfers. Government programs to improve health, agricultural output, private investment, and women's political participation have received international plaudits and substantial donor support. Rwanda's development and security gains are particularly remarkable in the wake of the 1994 genocide, in which extremist members of the ethnic Hutu majority orchestrated a three-month killing spree targeting the minority Tutsi community and politically moderate Hutus. An estimated 800,000 people were killed."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Terrell, Katherine Z.

  2018-02-07
• Niger: Frequently Asked Questions About the October 2017 Attack on U.S. Soldiers [October 27, 2017]

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  "A deadly attack on U.S. soldiers in Niger and their local counterparts on October 4, 2017, has prompted many questions from Members of Congress about the incident. It has also highlighted a range of broader issues for Congress pertaining to oversight and authorization of U.S. military deployments, evolving U.S. global counterterrorism activities and strategy, interagency security assistance and cooperation efforts, and U.S. engagement with countries historically considered peripheral to core U.S. national security interests."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Feickert, Andrew . . .

  2017-10-27
• Attack on U.S. Soldiers in Niger: Context and Issues for Congress

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  "On October 4, four members of U.S. Special Operations Forces were killed and two wounded in an attack in western Niger, an emerging hot spot of Islamist extremist activity. The Defense Department (DOD) stated in a briefing on October 5 that the U.S. servicemembers were 'conducting an advise and assist mission' with local counterparts, several of whom were also killed. The identity of perpetrators has not been confirmed. The incident has highlighted evolving security threats in West Africa's Sahel region, as well as the growing presence of U.S. military forces engaged in counterterrorism support in Africa. The situation in Niger poses issues for Congress pertaining to oversight of U.S. policy toward fragile states in the Sahel, U.S. security assistance and foreign aid, and U.S. counterterrorism activities abroad. If an Islamist armed group was responsible, as some reports suggest, this would be the first known incident in which such a group has killed U.S. soldiers on active duty in the Sahel. Western civilians, including several U.S. citizens, have died, however, in a recent series of mass-casualty attacks by Islamist extremists in regional capitals. The first reported prolonged hostage-taking of an American citizen by an Islamist group in the Sahel occurred in Niger in October 2016, underscoring the changing threat landscape."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2017-10-05
• Rwanda's August 4 Presidential Election [July 31, 2017]

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  "The circumstances of Rwanda's August 4 presidential election highlight some of the policy challenges in approaching a country that arguably combines effective governance with political repression. President Paul Kagame, in office since 2000, is campaigning for a third term. A constitutional referendum in 2015 changed the presidential term from seven to five years but exempted the sitting President from the shortened term and from a two-term limit until 2024."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bardall, Gabrielle S; Arieff, Alexis

  2017-07-31
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues, Challenges, and U.S. Responses [March 21, 2017]

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  "The 115th Congress and the Trump Administration are reviewing existing U.S. policies and programs in sub-Saharan Africa (henceforth, 'Africa') as they establish their budgetary and policy priorities toward the region while also responding to emerging crises. Africa-specific policy questions did not feature prominently in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, and the views of the Trump Administration on many U.S.-Africa policy issues remain unspecified. The Obama Administration's 'Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa' identified its policy priorities as strengthening democratic institutions; spurring economic growth, trade, and investment; advancing peace and security; and promoting opportunity and development. Analysts continue to debate whether that Strategy reflected an appropriate mix and ranking of priorities, as well as the degree to which the Obama Administration's actions reflected its stated goals."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .

  2017-03-21
• Democratic Republic of Congo: Targeted Sanctions [December 8, 2016]

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  "Congress has long focused on human rights and humanitarian hardship in war-ravaged eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an epicenter of instability in Central Africa's Great Lakes region. Recently, congressional attention has turned to DRC's democratic trajectory and dynamics in the capital, Kinshasa. President Joseph Kabila's effort to stay in office-which opposition and civil society activists view as unconstitutional-has spurred unrest and could become a violent crisis. In October, the DRC government and regional leaders backed an agreement extending the deadline for elections from November 2016 to April 2018. Top opposition and civil society leaders boycotted the talks that produced the agreement, however, and some have called for mass protests on December 19-when Kabila's second elected term nominally ends. Since 2015, the security forces have violently suppressed protests, arrested youth activists, blocked independent media, and expelled international researchers. Several religious leaders have reportedly been killed after criticizing the government. Protesters have also been implicated in violence against police. The State Department has criticized threats to political rights and called for a more inclusive agreement involving elections in 2017 and a commitment from Kabila not to seek another term or amend the constitution."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2016-12-08
• Central African Republic: Background and U.S. Policy [December 1, 2016]

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  "The Central African Republic (CAR) is emerging from a crisis that began when rebels overthrew the national government in 2013, ushering in a chaotic and violent period. A new president, Faustin Archange Touadéra, was elected in 2016, but gains remain fragile. Militias that have targeted civilians on the basis of religious and ethnic identity continue to operate in much of the country, posing challenges to governance, reconciliation, and accountability. Violence has caused large population displacements, weakening an already tiny economy and placing strains on finite international aid and peacekeeping resources."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Husted, Tomas F.

  2016-12-01
• November 2015 Terrorist Siege in Mali [November 23, 2015]

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  "On November 20, 2015, gunmen laid siege to the Radisson Blu, a hotel popular with foreigners in Mali's capital, Bamako. At least 22 people are reportedly dead, including one American. Other Americans were among more than 100 hostages safely recovered. Malian and French forces conducted rescue operations; U.S. Special Operations forces supported those efforts. Al Murabitoun, a Sahel-based terrorist group affiliated with Al Qaeda, and Al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) jointly claimed responsibility for the assault, possibly in coordination with other Mali-based groups. The Bamako attack came one week after the terrorist attacks in Paris, amid heightened international concern about threats to soft targets. It was the latest in a series against domestic and international targets in Mali and Northwest Africa. After several high-impact attacks by the self-declared Islamic State, the assault is also an indication of the growing fragmentation within the 'larger terrorism landscape,' with an array of groups emerging in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and growing threats against U.S. partners. Some groups have aligned themselves with Al Qaeda and others with the Islamic State, creating competition for recruits, resources, and public attention. Despite rhetorical affiliation with transnational groups, many Africa-based groups operate with relative autonomy."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Renard, Emily; Arieff, Alexis

  2015-11-23
• Lord's Resistance Army: The U.S. Response [September 28, 2015]

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  From the Summary: "The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony, is a small, dispersed armed group active in remote areas of Central Africa. The LRA's infliction of widespread human suffering and its potential threat to regional stability have drawn significant attention in recent years, including in Congress. Campaigns by U.S.-based advocacy groups have contributed to policy makers' interest. […] The U.S. approach to the LRA raises a number of policy issues, some of which have implications far beyond Central Africa. Some observers view the U.S. response to the LRA as a possible model for addressing mass atrocities, and decisions on this issue could potentially be viewed as a precedent for U.S. responses to similar situations in the future. At the same time, a key question for some is whether the response is commensurate with the degree to which the LRA impacts U.S. national interests. Other potential issues for Congress include funding levels for counter-LRA efforts; the prospects and benchmarks for 'success' and the withdrawal of U.S. forces; and the relative priority of counter-LRA activities compared to other foreign policy and budgetary goals. Possible policy challenges include regional militaries' capacity and will to conduct U.S.-supported operations and these militaries' relative level of respect for human rights. President Obama has waived in part the application of the Child Soldiers Protection Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-457) to facilitate the participation of troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in counter-LRA operations. The FY2015 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-235) and National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 113-291), and other recent authorization and appropriations measures, include relevant provisions. See also CRS Report R43377, 'Crisis in the Central African Republic'."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Husted, Tomas F.

  2015-09-28
• Lord's Resistance Army: The U.S. Response [September 28, 2015]

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  From the report summary: "The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony, is a small, dispersed armed group active in remote areas of Central Africa. The LRA's infliction of widespread human suffering and its potential threat to regional stability have drawn significant attention in recent years, including in Congress. Campaigns by U.S.-based advocacy groups have contributed to policy makers' interest. [...]The U.S. approach to the LRA raises a number of policy issues, some of which have implications far beyond Central Africa. Some observers view the U.S. response to the LRA as a possible model for addressing mass atrocities, and decisions on this issue could potentially be viewed as a precedent for U.S. responses to similar situations in the future. At the same time, a key question for some is whether the response is commensurate with the degree to which the LRA impacts U.S. national interests. Other potential issues for Congress include funding levels for counter-LRA efforts; the prospects and benchmarks for 'success' and the withdrawal of U.S. forces; and the relative priority of counter-LRA activities compared to other foreign policy and budgetary goals. Possible policy challenges include regional militaries' capacity and will to conduct U.S.-supported operations and these militaries' relative level of respect for human rights. President Obama has waived in part the application of the Child Soldiers Protection Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-457) to facilitate the participation of troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in counter-LRA operations. The FY2015 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-235) and National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 113-291), and other recent authorization and appropriations measures, include relevant provisions. See also CRS Report R43377, 'Crisis in the Central African Republic'."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Husted, Tomas F.

  2015-09-28
• Crisis in the Central African Republic [August 17, 2015]

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  "This report provides background on the evolving political, security, and humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR), a landlocked, sparsely inhabited, and extremely under-developed country. Violence in CAR since 2013 has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and placed strains on global humanitarian and peacekeeping resources. U.S. responses include: [1] humanitarian assistance; [2]diplomatic and financial support for a U.N. peacekeeping operation, MINUSCA; [3] additional bilateral support for African peacekeepers and French troops that have deployed to CAR; [4] foreign aid for conflict mitigation and peacebuilding activities; [5] public diplomacy initiatives; and [6] an Executive Order authorizing targeted sanctions. Possible issues for Congress include the authorization, appropriation, and oversight of U.S. humanitarian assistance and contributions to international stabilization efforts. The crisis in CAR also has implications for several broader issues of potential interest to Congress, including: [1] stability in the surrounding region; [2] the prevention of 'mass atrocities'; [3] U.S. efforts to counter the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a small but brutal militia active in CAR and neighboring states; and [4] the impact of the conflict in CAR on wildlife poaching and other cross-border criminal activity in the region. Congress has monitored the crisis in CAR and the U.S. response, including related fiscal implications. The 113th Congress held hearings on CAR before the Africa subcommittees of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (November 2013 and April 2014) and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (December 2013). The FY2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-235) states that 'funds made available by this Act for [CAR] shall be made available for reconciliation and peacebuilding programs.'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Husted, Tomas F.

  2015-08-17
• Burundi's Electoral Crisis: In Brief [May 14, 2015]

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  "This report provides context surrounding the ongoing political crisis in Burundi and analysis of U.S. policy and related issues for Congress. President Pierre Nkurunziza's efforts to run for a third term in office have sparked large domestic protests, a refugee influx into neighboring states, international condemnation, and--as of May 13--a military coup attempt. How the situation evolves may have implications for U.S. efforts to promote democracy and good governance in Africa, and for whether Burundian troops will continue to participate in U.S.-supported regional military operations in Somalia, which are aimed at countering the Al Qaeda-linked group Al Shabaab. The events of May 13 raise the question of whether the State Department will apply a provision in FY2015 foreign aid appropriations legislation (Division J of P.L. 113-235) prohibiting certain types of aid to any country in which the military has overthrown an elected government. Additional issues for Congress may include the authorization, appropriation, and/or oversight of any new U.S. funding in support of humanitarian aid or regional stabilization efforts. Burundi, a small country in Central Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world. As in neighboring Rwanda, its population includes a majority Hutu community (estimated at 85%) and minority Tutsi (14%) and Twa (1%) communities. Much of Burundi's post-colonial history has been characterized by political instability, military interference in politics, and ethnic violence. In the early 2000s, Burundi emerged from a decade-long, multi-faction civil war, fought largely along ethnic lines, in which as many as 300,000 people were killed. In the wake of a landmark peace accord signed in 2000, Burundi has seen relative stability."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2015-05-14
• Terrorist Attack in Tunis: Implications [March 23, 2015]

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  "The March 18 terrorist attack in Tunis has focused global attention on Tunisia and its struggle to pursue democracy amid security threats and economic hardship. The attack killed at least 20 foreign tourists visiting the national Bardo Museum, along with a Tunisian police officer. Two assailants were also killed; a third is reportedly at large. It appears to have been the deadliest terrorist attack by Islamist extremists in Tunisia since the country's 2011 popular uprising. U.S. policymakers, including Members of Congress, may examine the attack's potential implications as they consider international responses to security threats in North Africa, and as Congress weighs the Administration's proposals to increase bilateral aid and defense cooperation in FY2016. Tunisia is the 'Arab Spring' country that has been most successful in transitioning to democratic rule. It adopted a new constitution in early 2014 and held national elections late last year. President Obama has stated that Tunisia's political transition can 'inspire' people in the Arab world and beyond, and his February 2015 National Security Strategy states that 'We will work with Tunisia to further progress on building democratic institutions and strengthening its economy.' At the same time, some observers have expressed concern that Tunisia's newly elected government could be tempted to use security threats as a justification to crack down on Islamists or other political rivals, or resurrect repressive counterterrorism practices associated with past regimes. Tunisians from across the political spectrum have condemned the Bardo attack, but at times, disagreements over how best to approach security threats have contributed to tensions between Islamist and secularist political actors."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Humud, Carla E.

  2015-03-23
• Political Transition in Tunisia [February 10, 2015]

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  "Tunisia has taken key steps toward democracy since the 'Jasmine Revolution' in 2011, and has so far avoided the violent chaos and/or authoritarian resurrection seen in other 'Arab Spring' countries. Tunisians adopted a new constitution in January 2014 and held national elections between October and December 2014, marking the completion of a four-year transitional period. A secularist party, Nidaa Tounes ('Tunisia's Call'), won a plurality of seats in parliament, and its leader Béji Caïd Essebsi was elected president. The results reflect a decline in influence for the country's main Islamist party, Al Nahda (alt: Ennahda, 'Awakening' or 'Renaissance'), which stepped down from leading the government in early 2014. Al Nahda, which did not run a presidential candidate, nevertheless demonstrated continuing electoral appeal, winning the second-largest block of legislative seats and joining a Nidaa Tounes - led coalition government. Although many Tunisians are proud of the country's progress since 2011, public opinion polls also show anxiety over the country's future. Tangible improvements in the economy or government service-delivery are few, while security threats have risen. Nidaa Tounes leaders have pledged to improve counterterrorism efforts and boost economic growth, but have not provided many concrete details on how they will pursue these ends. The party may struggle to achieve internal consensus on specific policies, as it was forged from disparate groups united largely in their opposition to Islamism. Tunisian politicians and civil society leaders may also debate how, and when, to move from a pattern of ad-hoc negotiations to achieve 'consensus' on key political decisions, toward a greater reliance on formal political institutions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Humud, Carla E.

  2015-02-10
• Political Transition in Tunisia [October 22, 2014]

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  "Tunisia is in its fourth year of transition after the 2011 'Jasmine Revolution,' and it has so far continued to avoid the types of chaos and/or authoritarian resurrections that have affected other 'Arab Spring' countries. Legislative and presidential elections scheduled for late 2014 are expected to put an end to a series of transitional governments. On January 26, 2014, Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt a new constitution. This is widely viewed as a landmark accomplishment, given the difficulty of achieving political consensus, tensions between Islamists and secularists, and ongoing social and economic unrest. The new constitution asserts Tunisia's Muslim identity, but its framing--creating a civil state and provisions on civil liberties--is seen as a victory for secularists. The vote followed a political agreement under which Tunisia's main Islamist party, Al Nahda, agreed to give up its leadership of the government in favor of a technocratic prime minister in the lead-up to the elections. Tunisia has a small territory, a relatively well-educated and homogenous population, and a history of encouraging women's freedoms. Still, Tunisians face significant challenges in reforming state institutions, addressing economic woes, and responding to security concerns. Ansar al Sharia in Tunisia, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, was reportedly involved in an attack on the U.S. embassy and American school in Tunis on September 14, 2012--three days after the attacks in Benghazi, Libya. The military has targeted terrorist cells near the Algerian border and in the remote south, which reportedly serves as a regional transit point for weapons and fighters."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Humud, Carla E.

  2014-10-22
• Guinea: In Brief [October 16, 2014]

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  "A former French colony on West Africa's Atlantic coast with a population of about 11 million, Guinea is rich in natural resources, but poverty is widespread. President Alpha Condé, a former opposition leader, was voted into office in 2010 in what many observers consider to have been the country's first free and fair election. His inauguration brought an end to a turbulent period of military rule that followed the death of longtime leader Lansana Conté (who himself came to power in a military coup). As president, Condé has focused on containing the political influence of the military and improving Guinea's economic outlook, including by overhauling the mining code. However, opposition activists accuse Condé of authoritarian tendencies, state institutions remain weak, and ethnic tensions continue to influence politics and society. Local-level elections have been repeatedly delayed due to a stand-off between the government and opposition over electoral procedures. The impact of the Ebola outbreak on these and on presidential elections slated for 2015 remains to be seen. U.S. engagement in Guinea has focused on development assistance; support for security sector reform; efforts to counter narcotics trafficking; and concerns about regional peace and stability. Guinea's large mineral deposits, including the world's largest known reserves of bauxite (an ore used in producing aluminum), also present strategic and commercial interests. Following the 2008 military coup, the United States identified Guinea's political transition as a key policy goal in West Africa and made significant diplomatic and financial contributions toward the success of Guinea's election process."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2014-10-16
• Al Qaeda-Affiliated Groups: Middle East and Africa [October 10, 2014]

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  "After more than a decade of combating Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States now faces an increasingly diverse threat from Al Qaeda affiliates in the Middle East and Africa and from emerging groups that have adopted aspects of Al Qaeda's ideology but operate relatively or completely autonomously from the group's senior leadership. U.S. counterterrorism debates have focused on 'formal' Al Qaeda affiliates, and policymakers increasingly are considering options for addressing the range of threats posed by the wider spectrum of groups inspired by--or similar in goals and aspirations to--Al Qaeda. An additional challenge is the fluid nature of the threat, given the apparent fragmentation of Al Qaeda, and Ayman al Zawahiri's struggle to assert leadership of the group in light of challengers such as Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. Finally, concerns regarding these issues might shape ongoing reevaluations of the federal statutes that underpin current U.S. counterterrorism policy, including the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF, P.L. 107-40). In addition to the AUMF, Congress has addressed the emergence of Al Qaeda affiliates through a number of channels, including oversight of executive branch counterterrorism policies and practices; authorization and appropriations of U.S. funds for counterterrorism operations; and assistance for partner nations engaged in such operations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Humud, Carla E.; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .

  2014-10-10
• Western Sahara [October 8, 2014]

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  "Since the 1970s, Morocco and the independence-seeking Popular Front for the Liberation of Saqiat al Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario) have vied, at times violently, for control of the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. In 1991, the United Nations (U.N.) arranged a ceasefire and proposed a settlement plan calling for a referendum to allow the people of the Western Sahara to choose between independence and integration into Morocco. A long deadlock on determining the electorate for a referendum ensued. (The number of Sahrawis, as the indigenous people of Western Sahara are known, is disputed and politically fraught.) The U.N. then unsuccessfully suggested alternatives to the unfulfilled settlement plan and ultimately, in 2007, called on the parties to negotiate. In April 2007, Morocco offered a plan for increased regional autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. The Polisario, for its part, has continued to call for a referendum on independence. […] The Polisario has a government in exile, the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which is hosted and backed by neighboring Algeria. The Western Sahara issue has stymied Moroccan-Algerian bilateral relations, Moroccan relations with the African Union, and regional cooperation on economic and security issues. The United States has not recognized the SADR or Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The United States supports the U.N. mediation effort, has referred to the Moroccan autonomy proposal as 'serious, realistic, and credible,' and has urged the parties to reach a mutually acceptable solution--an outcome that would not destabilize its ally, Morocco."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2014-10-08
• U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Frequently Asked Questions and Background [July 31, 2014]

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  "This report provides information about the early August 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, and policy issues likely to be addressed by participants in the summit and other events being held in conjunction with it. In providing background on key U.S.-Africa policy issues, the report addresses: [1] Africa's development and economic challenges; [2] U.S.-Africa trade, investment, and economic cooperation; [3] U.S. aid to Africa; [4] Governance, democracy, and human rights issues; and [5] Peace and security issues, including selected U.S. responses. […] The summit focuses on the continent as a whole, both sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa, although the Administration's 2012 Africa Strategy focuses on sub-Saharan Africa alone. Likewise, sub-Saharan Africa is the main focus of this report, although some coverage of North Africa is included. […] The report discusses some key social and economic issues in the region. This includes key development challenges--a need for health, education, and other social indicator improvements, especially catering to Africa's youthful population, and a need to address climatic and environmental shocks, among other ends. It also briefly addresses the recent positive shift in Africa's economic environment, including rapid economic growth and growing discretionary spending by consumers, while considering factors that may continue to limit business interest in the region. U.S. trade and investment aid programs, especially trade preferences and trade capacity building efforts under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expires in 2015 and may be reauthorized (as the report discusses), are also addressed, as is the nature of U.S. development aid."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .

  2014-07-31
• Lord's Resistance Army: The U.S. Response [May 15, 2014]

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  "The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony, is a small, dispersed armed group active in remote areas of Central Africa. The LRA's infliction of widespread human suffering and its potential threat to regional stability have drawn significant attention in recent years, including in Congress. Campaigns by U.S.-based advocacy groups have contributed to policy makers' interest. Since 2008, the United States has provided support to Ugandan-led military operations to capture or kill LRA commanders, which since 2012 have been integrated into an African Union (AU) 'Regional Task Force' against the LRA. The Obama Administration expanded U.S. support for these operations in 2011 by deploying U.S. military advisors to the field. In March 2014, the Administration notified Congress of the deployment of U.S. military aircraft and more personnel to provide episodic 'enhanced air mobility support' to African forces. The United States has also provided humanitarian aid, pursued regional diplomacy, helped to fund 'early-warning' systems, and supported multilateral programs to demobilize and reintegrate ex-LRA combatants. The Administration has referred to these efforts as part of its broader commitment to preventing and mitigating mass atrocities. Growing U.S. involvement may also be viewed in the context of Uganda's role as a key U.S. security partner in East and Central Africa. U.S. security assistance to Uganda, including for counter-LRA efforts, has continued despite policy makers' criticism of the Ugandan government's decision in early 2014 to enact a law criminalizing homosexuality."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch

  2014-05-15
• Crisis in the Central African Republic [May 14, 2014]

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  "This report provides background on the evolving political, security, and humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR). It includes a map of conflict-affected areas and a timeline of key events (see Figure 1 and Figure 2). Violence in CAR has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and is placing new strains on global humanitarian and peacekeeping resources. U.S. policy responses to the situation in CAR include: [1] humanitarian assistance; [2] support to African and French troops that have deployed to CAR; [3] anticipated contributions to a U.N. peacekeeping operation in CAR authorized to begin in September 2014; [4] aid for conflict mitigation and peacebuilding; [5] public diplomacy initiatives; and [6] an Executive Order authorizing targeted sanctions. Possible issues for Congress include the authorization, appropriation, and oversight of U.S. humanitarian assistance and contributions to international stabilization efforts. The crisis in CAR also has implications for several broader issues of potential interest to Congress, including: [1] stability in the wider central Africa region; [2] the prevention of mass atrocities; [3] the status of U.S. efforts to counter the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a small but brutal militia present in CAR and neighboring states; and [4] the impact of instability in CAR on wildlife poaching and other cross-border criminal activity in the region."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Arieff, Alexis

  2014-05-14