Rep. Bass Issues Statement As Pompeo Returns From Africa

February 20, 2020

Press Release

WASHINGTON – Today Congressmember Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement after Secretary of State Michael Pompeo returned from his first-ever trip to Africa in that capacity. During the three-day trip, Secretary Pompeo visited Angola, Ethiopia, and Senegal.

"This is the first U.S. Cabinet official to visit Africa in more than 18 months and comes less than a month after the Trump administration imposed travel restrictions on Eritrea, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania and amid speculation that the U.S. will reduce its troop presence across Africa. If this happens, the withdrawal will come at a time of increased insecurity in the Sahel region as al-Qaeda and Islamic State off-shoots take hold of parts of countries there including Burkina Faso and Mali. According to reports, Secretary Pompeo has said that Trump is eager to play a bigger role on the continent. My hope is that this includes a comprehensive Africa policy and not just the desire to counter China. As of now, the message to African countries has been mixed and inconsistent."

Issues:

Foreign Policy, U.S.-Africa Policy