AFRICOM

Africa has begun to regain attention due to the weakening of the bipolar world system. The global financial crisis of 2008 intensified competition among world powers and brought Africa to the forefront of politics due to its resources. After the crisis Africa became a sphere of interest for USA and the rising powers alongside it. After 2005 the United States began to show interest in the continent in a strategic sense and with the establishment of the Africa Command (AFRICOM) in 2007 U.S. policy toward Africa gradually became clearer.

U.S. Geographic and Functional Combatant Commands Worldwide

The U.S. military forces worldwide are generally classified into Geographic and Functional Combatant Commands. Geographic Commands are defined by a specific geographic responsibility area while Functional Commands are responsible for implementing cross-regional responsibilities on a global scale. The United States currently has six geographic combatant commands: Africa (AFRICOM), Europe (EUCOM), Pacific (PACOM), North (NORTHCOM), South (SOUTHCOM), and Center Command (CENTCOM). In addition there are four functional commands: Transportation (TRANSCOM), Special Operations (SOCOM), Joint Forces (JFCOM) and Strategic (STRATCOM).

AFRICOM and Its Operational Content

The United States Africa Policy has become synonymous with AFRICOM. The Department of Defense conducts a wide range of activities in Africa to safeguard U.S. national interests. Operational activities include humanitarian assistance peacekeeping counterterrorism efforts criminal sanctions civil evacuation (NEOs) and sea interdiction operations (MlAs); but these are not exhaustive.

In addition to conventional military operations the U.S. military enhances the capacity of African armed forces to conduct operations within their own countries and regions to ensure security and stability. Many of these initiatives undertaken by the U.S. Department of Defense are part of foreign military assistance programs funded by the Department of State. In addition to financial support the U.S. Department of State also contributes to the implementation of these programs. U.S. military advisors in the United Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa have assisted forces stationed in Sudan and Somalia. U.S. forces regularly conduct various bilateral and multilateral common exercises with African armed forces through Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) like programs. U.S. forces also conduct exercises as part of disaster relief and maritime security training.

Africa Center for Strategic Studies

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) was established in 1999 as one of five strategic centers of the U.S. Department of Defense. It conducts various academic activities for African U.S. and European military and civilian officials with the aim of promoting good governance and democratic values countering ideological support for terrorism and encouraging African defense and regional security cooperation. The ACSS headquartered in Washington DC has offices in Dakar Senegal Addis Ababa and Ethiopia.

Foreign Military Sales Program

The United States sells military equipment to African governments through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program administered by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The U.S. government also provides financial assistance to foreign governments for such equipment purchases through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program. Equipment is provided to African countries through the African Coastal and Border Security Program (ACBSP) the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program and through special authorizations by the Department of Defense. The United States counterterrorism strategy in Africa encompasses both addressing the root causes of terrorism and targeting terrorist entities primarily through aerial strikes none.

Information Operations and Relations with Other Countries

The United States provides support to Information Operations (IO) to optimize the security environment and enhance security conditions for U.S. embassies and consulates through military intelligence support teams stationed there. There is internal debate within the U.S. government over whether these activities should fall under the purview of the Department of Defense or be managed by other U.S. agencies.

U.S. Department of Defense officials assert that AFRICOM maintains strong cooperation with states such as the United Kingdom and France that provide training and support to African security forces as well as with U.S. agencies including the U.S. Agency for International Development the Department of State Justice the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Department of Defense notes that the U.S. Africa Command is based on the U.S. Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.