REP LIEU STATEMENT ON UPCOMING HEARING ON COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS IN AFRICA

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement ahead of this week's House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in Africa.

"I am pleased that Chairman Royce has accepted my request to hold a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in Africa. From combating Al Shabaab in Somalia to Boko Haram in Nigeria, U.S. military personnel are deployed across the African continent with little public scrutiny or awareness. It is critical that we bring more transparency to the years-long work of U.S. Special Operations Forces in sub-Saharan Africa, their rules of engagement and the broader regional strategy.

As I pointed out after four service members were killed in Niger last month, our committee has not held a single full committee hearing focused on U.S. objectives in the Sahel region since 2013. When that is rectified next week, I hope the Administration is prepared to answer critical questions about both the Niger attack and the August 25 Special Operations incidentin Somalia in which U.S. forces are alleged to have shot 10 civilians, including at least one child.

As a Veteran, I firmly believe one of Congress' most fundamental duties is to conduct oversight of war powers and operations. I look forward to doing that at next week's hearing."

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