Presentation to the Portfolio
Committee on Foreign Affairs
on AFRICOM
Mr M Nkosi, Deputy Director-General:
Africa Bilateral
Cape Town
20 February 2008
BACKGROUND
• President Bush announced creation of AFRICOM on 6
February 2007
• Africa command currently shared between Central
Command (CENTCOM), Pacific Command (PACOM)
and European Command (EUCOM), with the latter
focused on 42 African countries
• EUCOM based in Stuttgart, Germany
• Africa is the only region without its own Command
• AFRICOM initially conceived to be fully operational by 1
October 2008
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AFRICOM MISSION STATEMENT
• US Africa Command promotes US National Security objectives by
working with African stakeholders and regional organisations to help
stability and security in the Area of Responsibility.
• US Africa Command leads the inter-theatre DoD response to
support other USG agencies in implementing USG security policies
and strategies.
• In concert with other US Government and international partners, US
Africa Command conducts theatre security co-operation activities to
assist in building security capacity and improve accountable
governance.
• As directed, US Africa Command conducts military operations to
deter aggression and respond to crises.
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OBJECTIVES
• The AFRICOM based on three pillars:
– Building local security capacity in Africa
– Civilian control of the military and defence reform
– Military professionalisation
• The AFRICOM is intended to achieve the following;
– bolster security capabilities of Africa
– enhance efforts to bring peace and security to Africa
– promote development, health, education, democracy, and
economic growth in Africa
– play a supportive role towards building democratic institutions,
good governance
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OBJECTIVES (CONT)
• Support US Government agencies in implementing security
policies
• Conduct Theater Security Cooperation activities
• Increase partner counter-terrorism skills
• Enhance humanitarian assistance, disaster mitigation, and
response activities
• Foster respect for human rights
• Support African Regional Organizations
• As directed, conduct military operations
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STRUCTURE
• US State Department will continue being the lead agency in
conducting US foreign policy in Africa
• AFRICOM will support US foreign policy agencies and other
humanitarian organizations in their mandate
• Civilian oversight along lines of SOUTHERN COMMAND
• General William Ward was appointed Commander of Africom
• One of two Deputy Commanders slated to be a civilian
• AFRICOM to be composed of about 600 mainly administrative
personnel, both civilian and military, from EUCOM,PACOM and
CENTCOM
• No military personnel to be based in Africa
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EVALUATION
• Establishment of AFRICOM met with varying
degrees of concern, acceptance and rejection
• AFRICOM widely recognised as emanating
from US Strategic interests in Africa
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Draft Area of Responsibility: Restructuring of Africom from
EUCOM to a fully fledged Command for Africa
Full Operational Capability (Draft)
Current
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USEUCOM
USCENTCOM
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USEUCOM
USCENTCOM
USAFRICOM
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USPACOM
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Draft Pre-decisional Working Papers, not subject to FOIA Requirements
AFRICAN POSITION
• Most African countries cautious in their response
• Liberia only country to offer hosting AFRICOM
• February 2008: Question of location resolved in favour of Stuttgart
due to ambivalence from African governments and civil society
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AFRICAN POSITION (CONT)
• SADC declined to host AFRICOM in region
• Position informed by history of military interventions in Africa since
independence of African countries
• Position also guided by desire to strengthen Africa’s Regional
Standby Forces
• AU has not yet formally taken a position on the matter
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SA POSITION
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SA has expressed reservation on AFRICOM
SA position guided by that of SADC
SA unwilling to host foreign military on its sovereign territory
Due to its multilatera11list stance, SA will not interact with the US
unilaterally on Africom
• SA – US Defence Co-operation
– The SA-US Defence Committee (DefCom) was hosted on 12-14
February 2008
– Commission did not discuss AFRICOM
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US RESPONSE
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US is working to allay fears about AFRICOM
Engaging countries bilaterally to garner support for AFRICOM
US characterising African ambivalence as misconception
Role of State Department emphasised over that of DoD
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WAYFORWARD
• Continue monitoring developments around AFRICOM
• Discuss matter, as appropriate, within Africa’s multilateral institutions
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Thank you
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