Is USAID Funding Terrorism? -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

Congressman, Scott Perry, has said that US aid agency, United States Agency for International Development, funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram. Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, made the claim during the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday last week.The session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on alleged misappropriations of taxpayer funds. Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” Perry said. His statement has sent shock waves in the marrow of terrorism ravaged countries which in the past several decades were forced to live with the menace of terrorism. These poor countries have continued to lost human lives and resources to fight war against terrorism.

For the past 15 years, Nigeria has been battling with Boko haram insurgents in the North-East region. The violent and murderous activities of Boko Haram have led to premature death of thousands people while hundreds of billions were expended by federal government to crush the insurgents. Even before Scott Perry’s bomb shell statement, many public experts have been suspiciously interrogating the activities of foreign NGOs. In an interview granted to Al-Jazeera Television, the chief of Defence Staff (CDS),Christopher Musa, expressed fears on the likely complicit of international agencies on terrorism financing. The CDS explained that most of the terrorists apprehended were seen with foreign currencies. Musa quarried, how boko haram members sustain themselves in the last 15 years remains mysterious. To further scrutinise NGOs operating and vet their humanitarian assistance in Borno State, the state government sometimes in 2022 ordered their accreditation to ensure compliance with the laws regulating their conduct.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has several objectives that guide its work in promoting global development and advancing U.S. foreign policy interests. Some of the key objectives of USAID including: reduce poverty and inequality by promoting economic growth, improving livelihoods, and increasing access to basic services. Strengthen democratic institutions, promote human rights, and support good governance practices. Improve health outcomes, prevent and treat diseases, and strengthen health systems. To Prevent conflict, promote stability, and support peacebuilding efforts among other. These objectives guide USAID’s programming and investments in over 100 countries around the world.

USAID lofty humanitarian objectives or outreach which cut across various human development has proved to be potency in addressing global challenges. Until the shocking revelation from congressman Scott Perry, USAID is known to have been intervening in poverty reduction, health care and education development of many developing countries. With the allegations against USAID, there is the need for Trump’s government to investigate how funds earmarked for humanitarian assistance were channeled to fund terrorism. The culprits should be brought to book and face trial for atrocities against humanity.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State 08169056963.