Chris Coons

In less than 18 months, we were able to bring that country back into a democratic country moving forward because of an African-led process supported by us.

I have represented in a number of settings that this is something we really ought to be looking to more broadly.

Ultimately, the primary architects of what peace, democracy, and development efforts look like must be the Somali people.

Today's hearing comes almost exactly two decades after the battle of Mogadishu, in which 18 Americans were killed defending U.S. interests and providing vital humanitarian assistance to Somalia.

I am pleased to call to order this hearing of the African Affairs Subcommittee on security and governance issues in Somalia.

Somalia is slowly emerging from the abyss.

The opportunity is to help citizens gain greater confidence in both local and central governing structures

I think it is additionally helpful for us to provide a strong example of a functioning democracy that we can be proud of here at home.

Ultimately, the development of participatory, accountable, and representative governmental institutions that respond to the needs of the Somali people will secure the country's future.

Ultimately the solution in Somalia needs to be a political one and AMISOM needs to work within a political framework

What timeline do you think it is possible to rebuild a representative, credible, vetted Somali national security force?

And the overarching goal of the 2016 process is to ultimately get to a place where a legitimate national election is possible.

There have been developments in the region, both in Kenya and Somalia that I think called for a classified briefing.

Building on airlift capacity is, I think, a long-term goal we all share.

There has been real progress in dealing with the famine and the humanitarian crisis, in dealing with piracy which has been dramatically curtailed.

I suspect we broadly share frustration about many of the things we read in the media, not all of which I believe.

I think it remains critical first that we fulfill our constitutional duty in a bipartisan manner to examine ongoing and pressing national security issues.

What is the plan forward for dealing with this shutdown, should it continue for another couple of weeks?

We have to be clear-eyed and realistic about our goals.

What, if any, evidence is there that the human rights situation within Iran has improved?

Thank you for convening this critically important hearing and ensuring that this committee continues to fulfill its constitutional duty, even in the middle of a Government shutdown.

This needs to be done in a nonpartisan way and in a way that continues to sustain the American judicial system as literally the world leader.

Sequestration is having quite negative consequences all across the Federal Government.

I believe that it is important for us as a--it is important for the judiciary to move the parties toward resolution.

We may be reducing spending in the short term, it is having long-term consequences in terms of personnel, efficiency of operations, and our ability to execute on our public responsibilities.