WASHINGTON — In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued a sharp warning about growing national security threats in Somalia and across Africa, blaming malign actors like China, Russia, and Iran for exploiting instability and undermining U.S. interests on the continent.
“Somalia remains a terrorist safe haven,” Risch said, citing a recent White House proclamation restricting Somali nationals from entering the United States. “We must take seriously the threat posed by al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates operating there. Our military presence in Africa, especially Somalia, is about protecting the American people.”
Risch praised recent U.S. airstrikes in Somalia, noting the Trump administration’s more aggressive posture. “This administration has shifted away from relying solely on a fragile central government and is instead working with effective partners on the ground,” he said. “That kind of decisive action is what’s needed to disrupt terrorist networks.”
So far in June, U.S. Africa Command has conducted six airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants in Somalia — a sign, Risch says, of Washington’s sharpened focus on the Horn of Africa. He warned that extremist groups continue to expand their reach, exploiting political instability and drawing support from hostile powers.
“The actions of China, Russia and Iran are making the security environment in Africa, especially in Somalia, more dangerous,” Risch said. “China’s economic encroachments, Russia’s military interference, and Iran’s efforts to extract uranium in parts of the continent are all deeply troubling.”
While Risch underscored the importance of U.S. leadership, he also called on African nations to step up. “We can’t be the only major player confronting terrorism. Regional partners must do more.”
The Senator also tied the situation in Somalia to broader geopolitical concerns. He emphasized that terrorist attacks against U.S. targets in Africa have long-standing consequences — recalling Osama bin Laden’s operations from Sudan in the 1990s that culminated in 9/11. “We ignore Africa at our peril,” he said.
Risch’s comments come as the U.S. reevaluates its trade and diplomatic engagement with African nations. While praising Trump’s focus on results-driven foreign policy, he also warned against being outmaneuvered by rivals. “America must have a seat at the table in Africa — economically, diplomatically, and militarily,” he said.
Beyond Somalia, Risch highlighted other flashpoints, including the war in Sudan — where more than 150,000 have been killed and 12 million displaced — and growing Chinese influence in mineral-rich regions like eastern Congo.
But it is Somalia, he made clear, that lies at the heart of America’s immediate security interests. “The terror threat there is not theoretical — it’s active, dangerous, and must be confronted with urgency and resolve.”