Idaho Senator Jim Risch has continued to rattle East African nations by proposing far-reaching reforms, signalling a shift from an assistance-led to an investment-led strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The senator who recently called out President William Ruto following his statement in China is advocating for a symbiotic arrangement, if not a win-win, between the US and East Africa.
In a statement on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Jim Risch, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, defended the move to cut financial assistance in the fight against Al Shabaab, which Kenya played a critical part in before recalling its troops in line with United Nations recommendations.
Risch challenged African nations to pull their weight in supporting such missions. The senator also clarified that he had introduced the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act of 2025 to safeguard US taxpayer funds and hold the UN and African Union (AU) accountable in African peace operations.
“The U.S. isn’t abandoning the Danab or the fight against terror groups like al-Shabaab. Support for the Danab started to phase out in 2024 after its leaders stole rations and Somalia’s government did nothing about it. U.S. taxpayers shouldn’t keep funding corruption,” his statement read in part.
“The U.S. hasn’t refused to support the AU mission in Somalia—we’re just insisting that Europe and Africa pull their weight. Funding schemes like UNSCR 2719 let others dodge the bill and dump the cost on U.S. taxpayers, while giving the UN a welcome distraction for its own failure,” Risch wrote.
His piece of legislation was introduced in May 2025, where Risch told US senators that it was key to protecting Americans holding and promoting a shift in their policy.
“At the UN, our European partners are looking to skirt their financial commitments to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia by switching to a new imbalanced funding mechanism that pushes the burden on Americans. We can’t let that stand. This bill will prohibit U.S. contributions to AUSSOM under this new funding scheme until the AU and the UN can prove that they are using the funds they have responsibly and prevent Americans from being locked into perpetually funding a broken system,” Risch said while introducing the bill.
Details of the bill
The bill seeks to prohibit US financial contributions to AUSSOM under UNSCR 2719 and mandate US opposition to any UN Security Council action enabling such funding.
It also requires the Secretary of State to conduct annual, independent assessments of the AU’s compliance with UNSCR 2719 criteria for all AU-led peace operations.
“Mandate comprehensive reporting to Congress on the assessment findings, AUSSOM’s performance and funding, and any U.S. contributions under UNSCR 2719,” it read in part.
“Expand existing State Department briefings to include specific updates on AU peace operations funded under UNSCR 2719,” it further added.
Trump’s advisor’s take
In another statement, US Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, also proposed a shift in policy in Africa. In a statement on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Boulos, who doubles up as President Donald Trump’s advisor, proposed a shift from an assistance-led to an investment-led strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Boulos made it clear that the US wants to establish a new partnership with commercial interests taking a center stage
“The U.S. State Department is shifting from an assistance-led to an investment-led strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our new strategy places commercial diplomacy at the core of our engagement by advocating for American companies, finding new commercial opportunities, and engaging with African governments on market reforms.”
