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“SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S781-S783 on Feb. 4, 2015.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 65--SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO BRING AN END TO VIOLENCE
PERPETRATED BY BOKO HARAM, AND URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO
CONDUCT TRANSPARENT, PEACEFUL, AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Coons, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 65
Whereas Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa, with the largest economy;
Whereas the Governments of the United States and Nigeria have had a strong bilateral relationship, and Nigeria has been a valued partner of the United States since its transition to civilian rule;
Whereas the Government of Nigeria is currently confronted with threats to internal security by terrorists, insurgents, and communal violence that have caused considerable population displacement, and at the same time must administer transparent and peaceful elections with a credible outcome;
Whereas the government and those who aspire to hold office in Nigeria must demonstrate the political will to address both of these challenges in a responsible way, including by ensuring full enfranchisement, with particular emphasis on developing a means for enfranchisement for the hundreds of thousands displaced by violence;
Whereas the members of Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram, have terrorized the people of Nigeria with increasing violence since 2009, targeting military, government, and civilian sites in Nigeria, including schools, mosques, churches, markets, villages, and agricultural centers, and killing thousands and abducting hundreds of civilians in Nigeria and the surrounding countries;
Whereas the Department of State named several individuals linked to Boko Haram, including its leader, Abubakar Shekau, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists in 2012, and designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
(FTO) in November 2013;
Whereas, in May 2014, the United Nations Security Council added Boko Haram to its al Qaeda sanctions list, and on January 19, 2015, the United Nations Security Council issued a presidential statement condemning the recent escalation of attacks in northeastern Nigeria and surrounding countries and expressing concern that the situation was undermining peace and security in West and Central Africa;
Whereas the over 200 school girls abducted by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014, from the Government Girls Secondary School in the northeastern state of Borno, whose kidnapping sparked domestic and international outrage spawning the Twitter campaign #BringBackOurGirls, are still missing;
Whereas the militant group is an increasing menace to the countries along Nigeria's northeastern border, prompting the African Union, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the European Union, and the United Nations Security Council to recognize that there must be a regional response;
Whereas the United States Government has stepped forward to offer assistance through intelligence sharing, bilateral and international sanctioning of Boko Haram leaders, counterterrorism assistance through the Global Security Contingency Fund program for countries in the region to counter the militant group, and humanitarian services to populations affected by and vulnerable to Boko Haram violence;
Whereas Boko Haram emerged partially as a response to underdevelopment in northeastern Nigeria, and inequality, elite impunity, and alleged human rights abuses by security forces may be fueling anti-government sentiment;
Whereas it is clear that a military approach alone will not eliminate the threat of Boko Haram, and gross human rights abuses and atrocities by security forces causes insecurity and mistrust among the civilian population;
Whereas it is imperative that the Government of Nigeria implement a comprehensive, civilian security focused plan that prioritizes protecting civilians and also addresses legitimate political and economic grievances of citizens in northern Nigeria;
Whereas Nigeria is scheduled to hold national elections in February 2015, and the elections appear to be the most closely contested in Nigeria since the return to civilian rule;
Whereas election-related violence has occurred in Nigeria in successive elections, including in 2011, when nearly 800 people died in clashes following the presidential election;
Whereas President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, General Muhammadu Buhari, and other presidential candidates pledged to reverse this trend by signing the ``Abuja Accord'' on January 14, 2015, in which they committed themselves and their campaigns to refraining from public statements that incite violence, to running issue-based campaigns that do not seek to divide citizens along religious or ethnic lines, and to supporting the impartial conduct of the electoral commission and the security services;
Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry visited Nigeria on January 25, 2015, to emphasize the importance of ensuring the upcoming elections are peaceful, nonviolent, and credible;
Whereas tensions in the country remain high, and either electoral fraud or violence could undermine the credibility of the upcoming election;
Whereas the people of Nigeria aspire for a fair, competently executed, and secure electoral process, as well as an outcome that can be accepted peacefully by all citizens; and
Whereas it is in the best interest of the United States to maintain close ties with a politically stable, democratic and economically sound Nigeria: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns Boko Haram for its violent attacks, particularly the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, especially women and girls, and the use of children as fighters and suicide bombers;
(2) stands with--
(A) the people of Nigeria in their right to live free from fear or intimidation by state or nonstate actors, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or regional affiliation;
(B) the people of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger who are increasingly at risk of becoming victims of Boko Haram's violence; and
(C) the international community in its efforts to defeat Boko Haram;
(3) supports the Abuja Accord, and calls on candidates, party officials, and adherents of all political movements to comply with the code of conduct spelled out therein, by refraining from any rhetoric or action that seeks to demonize or delegitimize opponents, sow division among Nigerians, or otherwise inflame tensions;
(4) condemns any and all abuses of civilians by security forces of the Government of Nigeria;
(5) urges the Government of Nigeria--
(A) to conduct timely, credible, transparent, and peaceful elections;
(B) to refrain from using security services for political purposes in connection with the elections;
(C) to prioritize the safety and security of Nigerians vulnerable to Boko Haram attacks;
(D) to implement a comprehensive, civilian security focused response to defeat Boko Haram that addresses political and economic grievances of citizens in the north;
(E) to improve the capacity and conduct of Nigeria's security forces, including respect for human rights, and take steps to hold accountable through a transparent process those members of the security forces responsible for abuses;
(F) to recognize that security forces are intended to protect the safety and security of all citizens equally; and
(G) to cooperate with regional and international partners to defeat Boko Haram;
(6) urges all Nigerians to engage in the electoral process, to insist on full enfranchisement, and to reject inflammatory or divisive rhetoric or actions; and
(7) reaffirms that the people of the United States will continue to stand with the people of Nigeria in support of peace and democracy.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I am here today to speak to the troubling situation in Nigeria, one of our strongest allies in Africa since its transition from military dictatorship to civilian rule over a decade ago.
Nigeria is currently facing two grave threats to its stability. First, the country is preparing to vote next month in the most closely contested presidential election in recent history, but there is a very real danger of prolonged violence across Nigeria and mass casualties if the election results are not deemed credible.
Second, in the last 2 months, Boko Haram, infamous for kidnapping over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014, has stepped up its murderous scorched-earth campaign, killing thousands of innocent civilians, gaining control over an increasing amount of territory in the northeastern portion of the country, and threatening to disrupt elections.
It is in the face of these dual challenges, that I, along with Senators Isakson, Shaheen, Boozman and Coons, have submitted a resolution which calls on Nigerian leaders to step-up to the plate and show real leadership in prioritizing the safety and security of Nigerians in the elections and doing everything possible to combat Boko Haram.
For over 5 years, Boko Haram has shocked the conscience of the world and terrorized Nigerian citizens of all religions and ethnic groups. It has targeted schools, mosques, churches, markets, villages and agricultural centers with a wave of kidnappings, killings and suicide bombs. Boko Haram terrorists have abducted hundreds, including the Chibok girls, who to this day remain missing; and has killed thousands--by some accounts over 6,000 last year alone and, since 2009, more than a million have been displaced.
In January, Boko Haram staged a 4 day assault on the northeastern town of Baga, abducting civilians, and forcing thousands to flee. Eyewitnesses claim as many as 2000 dead, though the government disputes this number. Satellite photographs show disturbing images of towns burned and razed. What began as a localized insurgency that targeted the military and government has grown into a sub-regional menace. Boko Haram has metastasized, effectively denying the government control over a significant swathe of territory in the three most affected states of northeast Nigeria, and undertaking bold incursions into neighboring countries. The Nigerian government's response has been ineffective at best. At worst, the actions of the security forces, who have been accused of alarming excesses, may have exacerbated the problem. These are things the Nigerian government must acknowledge and address if they want to end the reign of Boko Haram in communities most affected by the terrorist group.
The international community, the African Union, European Union, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, and United Nations Security Council--have all recognized that there must be a regional response to Boko Haram. On January 26, AU Commission Chairwoman Dlamini Zuma said that Boko Haram is a threat to the whole continent. Just days ago, the AU Peace and Security Council approved a 7500 strong regional force to combat the group. Recent U.S. efforts to provide assistance have been unilaterally rebuffed. Clearly, the international community is concerned and engaged. What is not so clear is the commitment of the Nigerian government to a thoughtful strategy of engagement.
During my meeting with President Jonathan at last year's African Leaders' Summit, I urged him to implement a comprehensive approach to address the Boko Haram insurgency--one that addresses both the security threat as well as the legitimate grievances of local communities. At the end of the day, Nigerian officials must come to terms with the fact that a military solution alone will not solve the problem. To date, the government does not appear to have formulated a comprehensive strategy, and as a result, the insurgency continues to gain momentum.
Against this backdrop of government inaction and Boko Haram's unspeakable terrorism raging in the north, presidential elections are scheduled for February 14. For the first time since Nigeria transitioned from military rule to democracy in 1999, a unified opposition party will challenge the ruling People's Democratic Party, PDP. This election will test the strength of an electoral process that has been marred by violence. In 2011, more than 800 people were killed in clashes that followed what international observers deemed to be the most free, fair, and best-administered elections to date.
Despite the history of electoral violence, the Nigerian Government has yet to implement reforms recommended by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. INEC itself has taken a number of steps to improve the legitimacy of the voting process, including conducting widespread voter registration programs and introducing biometric voter identification cards. INEC is engaged in a valiant effort to distribute permanent voter cards in time for next month's elections, and we should continue to support such efforts until the job is done to protect the legitimacy and integrity of the elections.
National Security Advisor Sambo Dasuki has said the voter card distribution is too slow, and recently suggested that the elections be postponed. I think this suggestion has understandably raised suspicion and skepticism as to his motives and those of the PDP given that the race between President Jonathan and his challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, is by all accounts close to a dead heat. It is true, however, that increasing violence in three northern states threatens to disenfranchise a significant number of voters. And it is unclear how those who have been internally displaced will be given the opportunity to vote. In my view, there must be an effort to develop a consensus about how these twin challenges should be addressed or Nigerians may well dispute the results.
The two leading presidential candidates have made a public commitment to non-violence during the elections. They should be commended for their verbal assurances, and they should be held responsible if they renege. As Secretary Kerry said in Lagos at the end of last month,
``the international community is paying very close attention to this election.''
Nigeria has the largest economy and is the most populous country in Africa. So goes, Nigeria, so goes West Africa. We cannot, from a strategic standpoint, afford for it to fail. That is why the international community must continue to urge Nigerian political leaders to listen to all voices, regardless of ethnic, religious, or regional affiliation, and to safeguard the right of the Nigerian people to shape their own destiny.
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