Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act
Bill: H.R.7311 | Sponsor: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. (D-NY)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act
This bill requires the Department of State to report to Congress a strategy and implementation plan outlining U.S. efforts to counter Russia's malign influence and activities in Africa. The State Department must also report to Congress annual updates on the strategy and implementation plan.

To direct the Secretary of State to develop and submit to Congress a 
  strategy and implementation plan outlining United States efforts to 
 counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian Federation 
           and its proxies in Africa, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Countering Malign Russian Activities 
in Africa Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States--
            (1) should regularly assess the scale and scope of the 
        Russian Federation's influence and activities in Africa that 
        undermine United States objectives and interests; and
            (2) determine how--
                    (A) to address and counter such influence and 
                activities effectively, including through appropriate 
                United States foreign assistance programs; and
                    (B) to hold accountable the Russian Federation and 
                African governments and their officials who are 
                complicit in aiding such malign influence and 
                activities.

SEC. 3. STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN; REPORT.

    (a) Strategy and Implementation Plan.--Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
strategy and implementation plan outlining United States efforts to 
counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian Federation 
and its proxies in Africa, including programs and other initiatives 
designed to--
            (1) strengthen democratic institutions, improve government 
        transparency and accountability, improve standards related to 
        human rights, labor, anti-corruption initiatives, fiscal 
        transparency, monitor natural resources and extractive 
        industries, and other tenets of good governance; and
            (2) monitor and report on Russian political influence and 
        disinformation operations and the activities of Russian, 
        Russia-connected, or Russian-funded private military 
        contractors in Africa.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, 
        the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other 
        relevant Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall 
        submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
        the strategy and implementation plan required by subsection (a) 
        and related efforts to counter the malign influence and 
        activities of the Russian Federation and its proxies in Africa.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) An assessment of the scope and nature of the 
                Russian Federation's malign influence and activities 
                and related diplomatic, economic, and security 
                priorities and strategic objectives of such engagement 
                in Africa, including influence and activities that 
                involve Russian proxies, such as Russian oligarchs, 
                Russian-funded private military contractors, and other 
                individuals and entities directly or indirectly 
                employed by or financially or politically associated 
                with Russia and its officials, who are involved in or 
                aid activities to, among other things--
                            (i) manipulate African governments and 
                        their policies, as well as the public opinions 
                        and voting preferences of African populations 
                        and diaspora groups, including those in the 
                        United States; and
                            (ii) invest in, engage, or otherwise 
                        control strategic sectors in Africa, such as 
                        mining and other forms of natural resource 
                        extraction and exploitation, military basing 
                        and other security cooperation agreements, and 
                        information and communications technology.
                    (B) A detailed account of United States foreign 
                assistance and other initiatives developed and 
                implemented during the preceding 3 fiscal years to 
                address Russia's malign influence and activities in 
                Africa, including the objectives and details of planned 
                programs and initiatives set out in the strategy 
                required by subsection (a).
                    (C) An analysis of policy and programmatic 
                limitations, gaps, and resource requirements to 
                effectively counter Russia's malign influence and 
                activities in Africa.
                    (D) An overview of other initiatives and assistance 
                programs funded by other international donors and 
                partner countries to counter Russia's malign influence 
                and activities in Africa.
                    (E) An identification of African governments and 
                government officials, Russian government officials, and 
                other individuals and entities that have facilitated 
                payments and other prohibited activities that benefit 
                United States-sanctioned individuals and entities tied 
                to Russia, including in violation of the Global 
                Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F 
                of title XII of Public Law 114-328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 
                note), the Countering America's Adversaries Through 
                Sanctions Act (Public Law 115-44; 22 U.S.C. 9401 et 
                seq.), Executive Order 14024 (86 Fed. Reg. 20249; 
                relating to blocking property with respect to specified 
                harmful foreign activities of the Government of the 
                Russian Federation), and Executive Order 13848 (83 Fed. 
                Reg. 46843; relating to imposing certain sanctions in 
                the event of foreign interference in a United States 
                election), and a detailed overview of United States 
                efforts to hold such governments, officials, and other 
                individuals and entities complicit in violating or 
                facilitating the evasion of United States sanctions 
                against Russia and its proxies accountable through 
                sanctions or other restrictions.
                    (F) An identification of foreign companies and 
                persons that have provided transportation, logistical, 
                administrative, border crossing, or money transfer 
                services to Russian mercenaries or armed forces 
                operating on behalf of the Russian Government in Libya, 
                and an analysis of whether such entities meet the 
                criteria for imposition of sanctions under section 1(a) 
                of Executive Order 13726 (81 Fed. Reg. 23559; relating 
                to blocking property and suspending entry into the 
                United States of persons contributing to the situation 
                in Libya).
            (3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
        annex.

SEC. 4. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 27, 2022.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.