Meeks Statement on House Passage of the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act

Washington, DC - Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement following passage of the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act in the House of Representatives:

"I am proud of the exceptional show of bipartisan support for the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act which passed out of the House earlier this week.It is a demonstration of how Putin's war in Ukraine, and the Kremlin's corrupt and illicit activities in Africa to fund that war and other exploits, have worked to unify Congress andthe international community.

"As we continue to apply pressure on Putin and his agents for carrying out war crimes throughout this unjustifiable war of aggression, we cannot forget that the Russian Federation will continue to seek avenues through which it can pilfer, manipulate, and exploit resources in parts of Africa to evade sanctions and undermine U.S. interests.

"The United States not only stands with the people of Ukraine, but with all innocent people who have been victimized by Putin's mercenaries and agents credibly accused of gross violations of human rights in Africa, including in the Central African Republic and Mali. This bill enlists the resources of the State Department and other federal agencies to examine the Russian Federation's malign activities in Africa and hold those complicit in these activities to account. The United States will not sit by and watch Putin's war machine attempt to gain strength to the detriment of fragile states in Africa and elsewhere."