I'm John Batchez speaking with my colleagues, Bill Rajo, Senior Fellow Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, here in the North America with me and Caleb Weiss of the Bridgeway Foundation and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy.

He is in the continent of Africa.

There's a new administration, as it reminds us every day. There are new policies in all directions. What about Africa? Africa. There's a new administration, as it reminds us every day, there are new

policies in all directions. What about Africa? Caleb, I asked the general question, because you

follow the Africa story very closely with your reporting, the rest of the jihadist belt from

Nigeria through West Africa across Central African Republic into Uganda and Somalia across there.

The Sahil has been at risk for some years, and North Africa is another story for the jihad.

Have you seen?

Has there been published any interview with a member of the state and the new state department under Mr. Rubio,

member of the National Security Council under whoever is to be named the new NSA?

Any remarks about Africa and what is the mission for the Trump administration in Africa? Anything

at all, Caleb? There's not been too much, unfortunately. I think there's been nominal statements related to the

Sahel, but nothing really substantive. It may not, you know, I don't want to say this,

but it may not be too big on the Trump administration's radar right now.

They, for Africa specifically, appear to be more focused on Somalia.

The Trump administration has ramped up drone strikes in Somalia greatly since coming into office, but also the DRC.

In DRC, the main conflict right now is between DRC and the M23 group,

which is in 23, not to get into the long history,

I mean, it's essentially Rwandan-backed.

So the Trump administration has definitely put out statements and have tried directly

intervening between Congo and Rwanda to get them to come to the talk, to negotiating table

together, both Rubio and Trump's de facto Africa guy, Masad Bulos, who is the step, the father-in-law to one of Trump's daughters.

...