Ilhan Omar launches new foreign affairs group as GOP seeks to oust her from committee
Cami Mondeaux
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Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is preparing to launch a new foreign affairs working group focused on addressing crises in Africa, even as the Minnesota Democrat faces threats of removal from her committee assignments in the GOP-led House.
Omar announced the creation of the U.S.-Africa Policy Working Group on Tuesday, which will seek to create a partnership between experts and policymakers in Africa to understand how the continent is affected by U.S. policies. The group will focus on scheduling bipartisan briefings with Biden administration officials, nongovernmental agencies, and other experts to tackle a variety of issues.
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“In order to have a sustainable, growing, and egalitarian African continent, we must find solutions on the continent — whether it is in agricultural productivity, infrastructure, democratic governance, combating extremism, or tackling the climate crisis,” Omar said in a statement. “Our role must be as partners with the movements and civil society groups acting on the ground. For far too long, the United States has treated Africa as a threat that needed to be contained, a series of fires that needed to be put out, or a junior partner that needed to be disciplined.”
Group members will be tasked with responding to a number of urgent crises in Africa, including conflicts in Ethiopia as well as the governmental instability in West Africa. U.S. officials will also work directly with African leaders to understand the continent’s perspective on some of the world’s greatest challenges, such as the war in Ukraine or climate change.
“The U.S.-Africa Policy Working Group will be a venue for the promotion of American values and American interests in our dealings with our African partners,” Omar said. “It is my sincere hope that it will become a central player in creating lasting partnerships and building up a base of expertise so that Congress can be more actively involved in U.S. policy in Africa, and help move the conversation forward for many years to come.”
The group’s creation comes as Omar faces threats of being ousted from the House Foreign Affairs Committee after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) repeatedly vowed to strip the Minnesota Democrat of her committee assignments. McCarty has sought to remove Omar over her anti-Israel positions and accusations that Omar is antisemitic due to past comments.
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To be stripped of her assignments, the House must pass a full resolution supporting her removal. Republicans hold a 222-213 majority in the House, meaning they can only afford to lose four votes to pass the resolution without any Democrats. That could prove challenging for McCarthy, as some Democrats are reportedly lobbying GOP members on the Foreign Affairs panel to oppose her removal.
At least three Republicans, Reps. Ken Buck (CO), Victoria Spartz (IN), and Nancy Mace (SC), have said they would vote against Omar’s removal. Another three — Reps. Tim Burchett (TN), David Valadao (CA), and Matt Gaetz (FL) — remain undecided.