United States Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (Credit: uscongress)

By  Gary  Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

U.S. members of Congress have warned of Russia’s growing “malign” influence in the continent of Africa. To that end, Congress on Friday passed the “Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act”  in the House of Representatives. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who has been among members of Congress advocating legislation to counter Russia’s influence in Africa, sponsored the bill. 

“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 and the international community.” 

 -Rep. Gregory W. Meeks statement following passage of the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act  April  29, 2022

U.S. Congress Condemns Reports of Russian Mercenaries Killing 300 Civilians in Mali

U.S. Congressional members in early April  condemned  horrific reports of Malian troops and suspected Russian mercenaries allegedly executing about 300 people in central Mali, west Africa. Human Rights Watch said the alleged killings took place between March 27 and 31 in Moura, a rural town in the Mopti region, a location of jihadist activity.  

“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.”

-Rep. Meeks 

United States Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY) (Credit: uscongress)

United States Stands With People of Ukraine:  US  Congress 

“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.”  -Congressman Meeks.