Call the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to order. We thank our witnesses for being here, and im looking forward to your testimony. As much of the world concentrates on the isis threat and instability in the middle east, the Committee Takes this opportunity to consider efforts by the United States and other partners to counter extremism in the Subsaharan African area. Longterm development has been the norm across much of africa including here tell you what. Ben, even with large letters i cant see anymore. [laughter] including here in our committee with the recent signing of the power africa legislation, which were all very proud of and appreciate the way the administration has led on that effort also, that we hope will help bring investment to a key sector for Economic Growth and opportunity. Whereas in the middle east we have been reacting to abhorrent state and terrorist violence and the uprooting of millions of people, in africa weve had the opportunity of years of influence thro
Grown gdpwise 5 per year since 2000. Violent extremism is amongst the major risks to economies in part of africa. Tunisias gdp gross has been cut from 3 to 1 . Chads gdp contracted 1 in 2015 from a growth of 5 in 2014. And countries like kenya and nigeria saw a reduction of 25 of tourism following terrorist attacks. We in undp estimate that at least 33,000 people have died on african soils since 2011 as victims of violent extremism. And 6 million are currently internally displaced due to radicalization. Mr. Chairman, over the last two years undp has held a number of consultations, conducted a series of studies and commissioned research to better understand the violent extremism scourge in africa. These various studies and research converge in showing three major findings. One, while the drivers of radicalization are multifaceted and defy easy analysis, their major roots are to be found in the combination of poverty and low human development, a sense of economic and political exclusion
Test test. Test test test. Test test. Test test test. Test test test. Test test test. Test test test. Test test test. Test test test. Test test. Test test u. S. Policy responses to the significant stability of challenges presented by somalia which was literally and completed failed state, but where there is a Multi Lateral military presence where weve played a significant role and i think theyve made a substantial success in pushing back, where were expending less in money but boca horan last year was literally the deadlyiest terrorist organization in the world. It should get and deserves higher priority as senator cane suggested that are really unappealing. Gets more oil from the continent of africa than we do from the middle east. We long ago would have put africa at the top of our list and i am concerned that we are allowing others to become dominant players in africa and were lagging. Last in the weve really predominantly left the hard work to an au mission to the un and to the fre
[inaudible conversations] call the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to order. We thank our witnesses for being here. I look forward to your testimony. As much of the world concentrates on the ice is a threat and instability in the middle east the Committee Takes this opportunity to consider efforts by the United States and other partners to counter extremism in the Subsaharan Africa area. Longterm development has been the norm across much of africa including here tell you what. Even with large letters i cant see anymore. Including here in our committee with the recent signing of the power africa legislation which we are all very proud of and appreciate the way the administration has let on that effort also. That we hope will bring investment to a key sector for Economic Growth and opportunity. Whereas in the middle east we have been reacting to terrorist violence and the uprooting of millions of people. And africa weve had the opportunity of years of influence through diplomacy and d