1. PRESENTATION ON AFRICA COMMAND: BENEVOLENT OR MALEVOLENT US INTERESTS IN AFRICA?
20 FEBRUARY 2007

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and background
AFRICOM’s mission and objectives
Organizational structure
African perspectives on AFRICOM
AFRICOM and APSA
Conclusion

3. Introduction
“This new command will strengthen [US] security cooperation with Africa and help to create new opportunities to bolster the capabilities of our partners in Africa. Africa Command will enhance our efforts to help bring peace and security to the people of Africa and promote our common goals of development, health, education, democracy, and economic growth in Africa.” Pres. George Bush, February 7, 2007
“[Creating AFRICOM] will enable us to have a more effective and integrated approach than the current arrangement of dividing Africa between [different regional commands]” Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 6, 2007

4. Background Africa on margins of US foreign policy
US national strategic security interests
US/Soviet proxy competition during Cold War
September 9, 2001 events
Global War on Terror
Africa at centre of world foreign policy?

5. AFRICOM mission AFRICOM ‘unique’ command.
Involve inter-agency cooperation.
Oversees security cooperation, building partnerships capabilities, and defense support to non-military missions.
Kinetic vs non-kinetic, prevention vs reaction
Support US diplomacy

6. AFRICOM structure AFRICOM and US global force restructuring
AFRICOM bases and troop deployment?
Integrated civilian-military architecture.
Headed by an Army General, assisted by two deputies

7. African views on AFRICOM
Contradictory statements from US Govt
AFRICOM intent is promotion of common goals of development, health, education, democracy, etc.
Overdue reform to rationalize DoD bureaucratic efficiency, military coherence and synchronization
“Why is Africa suddenly important to US interests?”

8. AFRICOM and APSA AFRICOM and African Union
Emerging continental and regional APSA
African priorities and leadership on security
Civil/Military Activities Directorate deal with bilateral and multi-lateral engagements

9. Conclusion Terrorism vs socio-economic issues
Clarify AFRICOM’s linkages, objectives and mission and AU mechanisms on conflict prevention, management and resolution
“African solutions to African problems”

10. THANK YOU.

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