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119-hr-8718119th Congress

Countering Russia’s Forced Recruitment and Kidnapping in Africa Act

Sponsored By: Representative Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a U.S. sanctions and listing regime to stop the forced recruitment and kidnapping of African nationals by Russia-backed actors. It pairs a required list of foreign persons and governments with targeted financial, trade, and visa penalties while spelling out victim protections and humanitarian exceptions.

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  • African nationals and their families: People determined to be victims of fraud, coercion, or deception would be excluded from the list and shielded from the bill's sanctions.
  • Listed foreign persons and governments: Designated actors would face asset-blocking under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, U.S. visa bans, and prohibitions on loans or credits above $10 million in any 12-month period except for humanitarian purposes.
  • U.S. finance and aid rules: The bill would bar Export-Import Bank approvals and U.S. development finance or agency support to listed entities and direct U.S. representatives to oppose international loans. It also creates a presidential national interest waiver and a process to lift sanctions, with a five-year sunset on measures.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Sanctions and list of recruiters

If enacted, the State Department would make a list within 90 days naming foreign people and governments that recruit Africans to fight for Russia. The President would be able to impose sanctions within 30 days on each listed person or government. Sanctions could block property, cancel visas, bar U.S. government procurement, stop Ex-Im Bank, DFC, MCC, and USTDA support, and bar loans or credits over $10,000,000 in any 12-month period. The bill would exclude people credibly identified as victims, allow humanitarian and national-security exceptions, and any sanctions would end five years after enactment.

Presidential waiver and termination power

If enacted, the President would be able to waive or end sanctions for a listed person when doing so is vital to U.S. national interests or other statutory tests are met. To end sanctions, the President would have to notify the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees at least 15 days beforehand, citing reasons such as evidence the person did not engage in the covered activity or clear behavior change and consequences. If the President issues a waiver, the bill would require notification to those committees within 15 days after the waiver.

Classified evidence in court reviews

If enacted, courts reviewing determinations under this bill could be shown classified information in private (ex parte and in camera) when that information formed the basis for the decision. The bill would also say this procedure does not create a general right to judicial review.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/7/2026

  • Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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