United States Government Accountability Office Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate June 2014 COMBATING TERRORISM U.S. Efforts in Northwest Africa Would Be Strengthened by Enhanced Program Management GAO-14-518 June 2014 COMBATING TERRORISM U.S. Efforts in Northwest Africa Would Be Strengthened by Enhanced Program Management Highlights of GAO-14-518, a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Why GAO Did This Study What GAO Found Events in northwest Africa—such as al Nearly half of the funds allocated for the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s Partnership (TSCTP) since fiscal year 2009 have been disbursed, but TSCTP seizure of territory in Mali in 2012 and program managers are unable to readily provide data on the status of these Boko Haram’s near-daily attacks in funds. As of late 2013, U.S. agencies reported disbursing nearly $140 million of Nigeria—have underscored concerns the approximately $288 million allocated for TSCTP between fiscal years 2009 that the region is vulnerable to the and 2013. Mali, Mauritania, and Niger were the top three recipients of bilateral spread of violent extremism. TSCTP, a funding. Although the Department of State’s (State) Foreign Affairs Manual and U.S. multiagency counterterrorism federal standards for internal control note that effective internal management effort begun in 2005, led by State, and requires financial information for planning, programming, and performance primarily coordinated with USAID and evaluation, TSCTP’s program managers do not routinely collect and assess data DOD, focuses on strengthening partner countries’ counterterrorism capabilities on the status of funding for TSCTP, such as the amount of funds unobligated. and inhibiting the spread of terrorist Consequently, TSCTP’s program managers may lack the day-to-day access to ideology through diplomacy, financial information that federal standards for internal control state is required to development, and security assistance. make operating decisions, monitor performance, and allocate resources. This report examines (1) the status of TSCTP Allocations by Country and Regional Programs, Fiscal Years 2009-2013 TSCTP-related funding and U.S. agencies’ ability to track such funding; (2) the extent to which U.S. agency implementation of TSCTP is consistent with key practices of interagency collaboration; and (3) whether U.S. agencies considered partner country needs, absorptive capacities, and other donor efforts when selecting TSCTP activities. GAO reviewed agency documents, met with key officials in Washington, D.C., and conducted fieldwork at the U.S. Africa Command in Germany and in Algeria, Mauritania, and Niger. What GAO Recommends State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Department of GAO recommends that the Secretary Defense (DOD) actions to implement TSCTP are generally consistent with most of State and the Administrator of but not all of the key practices of interagency collaboration that GAO has USAID ensure that TSCTP program identified as important to enhancing collaborative agency efforts. For example, managers take steps to routinely agencies have agreed on their roles and responsibilities, established a joint collect and assess information on the strategy, and defined a common outcome for TSCTP. However, although status of funds for TSCTP. GAO also agencies have taken steps to leverage their resources and establish compatible recommends that the Secretary of procedures to operate across agency boundaries, the Department of Justice has State take steps to better integrate the not been fully integrated into TSCTP coordination efforts despite its expertise in Department of Justice into TSCTP building law enforcement capacity—one of TSCTP’s five lines of effort. coordination efforts. State and USAID both concurred with GAO’s U.S. agencies have used various means to consider partner country needs, recommendations. absorptive capacities, and other donor efforts when selecting TSCTP activities. These include assessment reports, meetings with host governments, and View GAO-14-518. For more information, bilateral and multilateral outreach to other donors. For example, the United contact Charles Michael Johnson, Jr., at (202) States participates in the Global Counterterrorism Forum, a multilateral venue for 512-7331 or [email protected]. sharing information on the counterterrorism activities of other donor nations. United States Government Accountability Office Contents Letter 1 Background 3 Nearly Half of Funds Allocated for TSCTP since 2009 Have Been Disbursed, but TSCTP Program Managers Are Unable to Readily Provide Data on the Status of Funding 12 TSCTP Implementation Is Generally Consistent with Most Key Practices of Interagency Collaboration, but the Department of Justice Can Be Better Integrated 19 U.S. Agencies Take Steps to Consider Partner Country Needs, Absorptive Capacities, and Other Donor Efforts when Selecting TSCTP Activities 26 Conclusions 29 Recommendations for Executive Action 30 Agency Comments and Our Evaluation 30 Appendix I Objectives, Scope, and Methodology 32 Appendix II Examples of Activities Conducted Using Funds Allocated for the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership 35 Appendix III Examples of Accounts and Programs That Support Counterterrorism Activities outside of the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership 39 Appendix IV Status of Funds Allocated for Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Activities 42 Appendix V Comments from the Department of State 46 Appendix VI Comments from the U.S. Agency for International Development 49 Page i GAO-14-518 Combating Terrorism Appendix VII GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments 51 Related GAO Products 52 Tables Table 1: Status of Funding for TSCTP, by Fiscal Year Appropriations (2009-2013) 13 Table 2: Status of Funding for TSCTP by Funding Account, Fiscal Years 2009-2013 14 Table 3: Status of Funding for TSCTP Country-Specific and Regional Programs, Fiscal Years 2009-2013 16 Table 4: Status of Peacekeeping Operations Funding for TSCTP Activities, by Fiscal Year Appropriations (2009-2013), as of November 2013 42 Table 5: Status of Development Assistance Funding for TSCTP Activities, by Fiscal Year Appropriations (2009-2013), as of December 2013 42 Table 6: Status of Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs Antiterrorism Assistance Funding for TSCTP Activities, by Fiscal Year Appropriations (2009- 2013), as of November 2013 43 Table 7: Status of Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs Counterterrorism Finance Funding for TSCTP Activities, by Fiscal Year Appropriations (2009- 2013), as of November 2013 43 Table 8: Status of Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs Terrorist Interdiction Program Funding for TSCTP Activities, by Fiscal Year Appropriations (2009- 2013), as of November 2013 44 Table 9: Status of Economic Support Fund Funding for TSCTP Activities, by Fiscal Year Appropriations (2009-2013), as of November 2013 44 Table 10: Status of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Funding for TSCTP Activities, by Fiscal Year Appropriations (2009-2013), as of November 2013 45 Page ii GAO-14-518 Combating Terrorism Figures Figure 1: Terrorist Events Conducted by Select Terrorist Groups in TSCTP Countries, 2009-2012 4 Figure 2: Key Terrorist Groups in Northwest Africa and Their Regions of Operation, 2009-2014 5 Figure 3: Select Political, Security, and Terrorist Events in TSCTP Countries, 2009-2014 7 Figure 4: Overview of the Primary Agencies Participating in the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) 11 Figure 5: Funding Allocations for TSCTP Country-Specific and Regional Programs, Fiscal Years 2009-2013 15 Figure 6: Primary Agencies Supporting Each TSCTP Line of Effort 21 Figure 7: State TSCTP-Funded Imam Training and Interfaith Dialogue Workshop in Chad 35 Figure 8: USAID TSCTP-Funded Radio Studio in Niger 36 Figure 9: State TSCTP-Funded Radio Equipment for Mauritanian Military National Command Center and Body Armor and Night Vision Goggles for Mauritanian Special Forces 38 Page iii GAO-14-518 Combating Terrorism Abbreviations AFRICOM U.S. Africa Command AQIM al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb DA Development Assistance DHS Department of Homeland Security DOD Department of Defense ESF Economic Support Fund INCLE International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Justice Department of Justice NADR Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs PKO Peacekeeping Operations State Department of State Treasury Department of the Treasury TSCTP Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership USAID U.S. Agency for International Development This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. The published product may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without further permission from GAO. However, because this work may contain copyrighted images or other material, permission from the copyright holder may be necessary if you wish to reproduce this material separately. Page iv GAO-14-518 Combating Terrorism 441 G St. N.W. Washington, DC 20548 June 24, 2014 The Honorable Robert Menendez Chairman The Honorable Bob Corker Ranking Member Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate Several recent events in northwest Africa have underscored concerns that the region’s vast ungoverned spaces, smuggling routes, porous borders, poverty, and fragile states offer a conducive environment for the spread of violent