I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3833 

To require a regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko Haram. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 26, 2015 

Ms. WILSON of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Select Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently 

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require a regional strategy to address the threat posed 

by Boko Haram. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. REGIONAL STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE 

4 THREAT POSED BY BOKO HARAM. 

5 (a) STRATEGY REQUIRED.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

7 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec8 retary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall 

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1 mittees of Congress a 5-year strategy to help enable 

2 the Government of Nigeria, members of the Multi3 national Joint Task Force to Combat Boko Haram 

4 (MNJTF) authorized by the African Union, and rel5 evant partners to counter the regional threat of 

6 Boko Haram and assist the Government of Nigeria 

7 and its neighbors to accept and address legitimate 

8 grievances of vulnerable populations in areas af9 fected by Boko Haram. 

10 (2) ELEMENTS.—At a minimum, the strategy 

11 shall address the following elements: 

12 (A) Enhance, pursuant to existing authori13 ties and restrictions, the institutional capacity, 

14 including military capabilities, of the Govern15 ment of Nigeria and partner nations in the re16 gion, as appropriate, to counter the threat 

17 posed by Boko Haram. 

18 (B) Provide humanitarian support to civil19 ian populations impacted by Boko Haram’s ac20 tivity. 

21 (C) Specific activities through which the 

22 United States Government intends to improve 

23 and enhance the capacity of MNJTF member 

24 nations to investigate and prosecute human 


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1 rights abuses by security forces and promote re2 spect for the rule of law within the military. 

3 (D) A means for assisting Nigeria, and as 

4 appropriate, MNJTF member nations, to 

5 counter violent extremism, including efforts to 

6 address underlying societal factors shown to 

7 contribute to the ability of Boko Haram to 

8 radicalize and recruit individuals. 

9 (E) A plan to strengthen and promote the 

10 rule of law, including by improving the capacity 

11 of the civilian police and judicial system in Ni12 geria, enhancing public safety, and responding 

13 to crime (including gender-based violence), 

14 while respecting human rights and strength15 ening accountability measures, including meas16 ures to prevent corruption. 

17 (F) Strengthen the long-term capacity of 

18 the Government of Nigeria to enhance security 

19 for schools such that children are safer and 

20 girls seeking an education are better protected, 

21 and to combat gender-based violence and gen22 der inequality. 

23 (G) Identify and develop mechanisms for 

24 coordinating the implementation of the strategy 

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1 ment of Nigeria, regional partners, and other 

2 relevant foreign partners. 

3 (H) Identify the resources required to 

4 achieve the strategy’s objectives. 

5 (b) ASSESSMENT.—The Director of National Intel6 ligence shall submit, to the appropriate committees of 

7 Congress, an assessment regarding— 

8 (1) the willingness and capability of the Govern9 ment of Nigeria and regional partners to implement 

10 the strategy developed under subsection (a), includ11 ing the capability gaps, if any, of the Government 

12 and military forces of Nigeria that would need to be 

13 addressed to enable the Government of Nigeria and 

14 the governments of its partner countries in the re15 gion— 

16 (A) to counter the threat of Boko Haram; 

17 and 

18 (B) to address the legitimate grievances of 

19 vulnerable populations in areas affected by 

20 Boko Haram; and 

21 (2) significant United States intelligence gaps 

22 concerning Boko Haram or on the willingness and 

23 capacity of the Government of Nigeria and regional 

24 partners to implement the strategy developed under 

25 subsection (a). 


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1 (c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con2 gress that lack of economic opportunity and access to edu3 cation, justice, and other social services contributes to the 

4 ability of Boko Haram to radicalize and recruit individ5 uals. 

6 (d) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE7 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate commit8 tees of Congress’’ means— 

9 (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the 

10 Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 

11 Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intel12 ligence of the Senate; and 

13 (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the 

14 Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 

15 Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Com16 mittee on Intelligence of the House of Representa17 tives. 

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