presentation on africa command: benevolent or malevolent us interests in africa? 20 february 2007

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PRESENTATION ON AFRICA COMMAND: BENEVOLENT PRESENTATION ON AFRICA COMMAND: BENEVOLENT OR MALEVOLENT US INTERESTS IN AFRICA?OR MALEVOLENT US INTERESTS IN AFRICA?

20 FEBRUARY 200720 FEBRUARY 2007

PRESENTATION ON AFRICA COMMAND: BENEVOLENT PRESENTATION ON AFRICA COMMAND: BENEVOLENT OR MALEVOLENT US INTERESTS IN AFRICA?OR MALEVOLENT US INTERESTS IN AFRICA?

20 FEBRUARY 200720 FEBRUARY 2007

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TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS

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•Introduction and background•AFRICOM’s mission and objectives•Organizational structure•African perspectives on AFRICOM•AFRICOM and APSA•Conclusion

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IntroductionIntroduction

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•“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

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BackgroundBackground

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•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?

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AFRICOM missionAFRICOM mission

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•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

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AFRICOM structureAFRICOM structure

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•AFRICOM and US global force restructuring

•AFRICOM bases and troop deployment?

•Integrated civilian-military architecture.

•Headed by an Army General, assisted by two deputies

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African views on AFRICOMAfrican views on AFRICOM

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•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?”

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AFRICOM and APSAAFRICOM and APSA

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•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

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ConclusionConclusion

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• 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”

10www.issafrica.org

THANK YOU.

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