On Feb. 6, 2007, the Bush Admin. announced the creation of a new unified combatant command, U.S. Africa Command or AFRICOM, to promote U.S. national security objectives in Africa and its surrounding waters. Prior to AFRICOM¿s establishment, U.S. military involvement on the continent was divided among 3 commands: European Command, Central Command, and Pacific Command. The new command¿s area of responsibility includes all African countries except Egypt. Contents of this report: (1) Issues for Congress; (2) The DoD Proposal for a New Africa Command; (3) U.S. Strategic Interests in Africa; (4) U.S. Mil. Assistance and Security Cooperation in Africa: An Expanding Role; (5) Regional Perspectives; (6) Congressional Interest and Oversight Issues.
As Africa’s strategic importance has increased over the past decade and a half, United States security cooperation with the continent has expanded. The most visible dimension of this increased engagement was the establishment of the U.S. Military Command for Africa (AFRICOM). Some critics are skeptical of AFRICOM’s purpose and see the militarization of U.S. Africa policy while others question its effectiveness. Recognizing the link between development and security, AFRICOM represents a departure from the traditional organization of military commands because of its holistic approach and the involvement of the Department of State as well as other U.S. government stakeholders. Nevertheless, AFRICOM’s effort to combine security and development faces formidable conceptual and operational challenges in trying to ensure both American and African security interests. The human security perspective’s emphasis on issues that go beyond traditional state-centered security to include protecting individuals from threats of hunger, disease, crime, environmental degradation, and political repression as well as focusing on social and economic justice is an important component of security policy. At the same time, the threat of violent extremism heavily influences U.S. security cooperation with Africa. In this examination of the context of U.S.-African security relations, Robert J. Griffiths outlines the nature of the African state, traces the contours of African conflict, surveys the post-independence history of U.S. involvement on the continent, and discusses policy organization and implementation and the impact of U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan on the U.S.-Africa security relationship. Africa’s continuing geostrategic significance, the influence of China and other emerging markets in the region, and America’s other global engagements, especially in light of U.S. fiscal realities, demonstrate the complexity of U.S.-African security cooperation.
United States-Africa relations have experienced four major cycles. The first cycle was during the Cold War(1960-1990). During this period, the U.S. developed a one-sided relationship with various African states in which the latter served as "foot soldiers" for the U.S. in its competition with the Soviet Union for global domination. Among other things, the various client African states provided the U.S. with access to airfields, deep water ports and sites for the establishment of various intelligence gathering facilities. In addition, the U.S. used various groups like UNITA led by Jonas Savimbi in Angola to undermine and fight pro-Soviet regimes on the continent. The second cycle of the relationship covered the period 1991-1998. During this time, the U.S. scaled down its security activities in Africa. The major reason was that with the end of the Cold War Africa(with few exceptions like Egypt) was no longer a major front for the promotion of U.S. Security interests. The third cycle commenced in 1998 and ended in 2001. This period was characterized by the U.S.’ search for an approach to frame its security relations with Africa. In this vein, the U.S. undertook various military-security initiatives . The fourth cycle began after the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the American homeland. Since then, the U.S. has expanded the scope of its security relations with Africa, as reflected in the establishment of various initiatives and programs. At the core is the prosecution of the American "war on terror." Against this backdrop, this book examines some of the major dimensions of the U.S.’ security relations with Africa, including American security interests on the continent, the "war on terror," AFRICOM, and military cooperation. Using the book’s integrative theoretical framework, each of the chapters in the volume examines the various factors that shape the issue of focus.
In February 2007, the President directed the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) to help strengthen U.S. security cooperation with African nations and bring peace and stability to the continent. For this review, GAO assessed DOD's (1) efforts to establish the command and communicate its mission, (2) progress in integrating personnel from other U.S. government agencies into AFRICOM, and (3) plans and costs for establishing a permanent headquarters and supporting offices in Africa. In assessing DOD's efforts to establish AFRICOM, GAO analyzed relevant documentation and obtained perspectives from the combatant commands, military services, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of State (State), U.S. Agency for International Development, and nongovernmental organizations. GAO recommends that AFRICOM include three key elements in its communications strategy, seek formal commitments for interagency personnel, and develop a comprehensive assessment of the possible locations of its permanent command headquarters and offices in Africa.
Using ongoing missions in Africa as a case study, this research seeks to answer the question: is the United States Government pursuing an effective strategy for building security cooperation capacity within its partners and allies on the African Continent? It will pursue an answer to this question by first considering the current security cooperation missions being conducted on the African Continent, and compare these with security cooperation missions that have been, or are currently being conducted, in other geographical combatant commands area of responsibility around the world. It will then evaluate if there are security cooperation missions that are being conducted in other geographical combatant commands that can be applied to the Africa geographic combatant command area of responsibility. The U.S. has a long history of assisting underdeveloped countries through government agencies and the Department of Defense (DoD). The United States strategic plan is to conduct Phase Zero security cooperation operations with African partner nations. These security cooperation missions begin with stability assistance in the form of security, civil and medical support programs. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION * Overview * United States Africa Command * Definitions * Primary Research Question * Secondary Research Questions * Assumptions * Limitations and Delimitations * Conclusion * CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW * Introduction * Definition and Response to Security Cooperation Missions * Conclusion * CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY * Introduction * Historical and Comparative Study Methods * Models for Identification and Change * Evaluating Security Cooperation Missions * Methodological Approach * Threats to Validity * Conclusion * CHAPTER 4 PRESENTATION OF FACTS AND ANALYSIS * Introduction * Present Environment * Desired Environment * Problems Currently Facing Security Cooperation Missions * Depiction of the Operational Approach * Conclusions * CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS * Introduction * Conclusions * Recommendations * Closing Thoughts
The fiscal year (FY) 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a title to reform the Department of Defense (DoD) security cooperation, has far-reaching implications for U.S. defense interests in Africa. As the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee notes, "the Department of Defense continues to place greater emphasis on security cooperation, to include building partner capacity." The term "building partner capacity" (BPC) widens the focus of security cooperation as a whole-of-government effort, and makes clear congressional interest in treating security cooperation as a defense institution building endeavor. In response to the law, this book examines and recommends specific steps the DoD can take to build partner capacity successfully in Africa and meet congressional direction.
In Feb. 2007, the President directed the DoD to establish the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) to help strengthen U.S. security cooperation with African nations and bring peace and stability to the continent. This review assessed DoD's: (1) efforts to establish the command and communicate its mission; (2) progress in integrating personnel from other U.S. gov¿t. agencies into AFRICOM; and (3) plans and costs for establishing a permanent HQ and supporting offices in Africa. The auditor analyzed relevant documentation and obtained perspectives from the combatant commands, military services, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of State, USAID, and non-governmental organizations. Includes recommendations. Illus.
This monograph addresses the current security cooperation structures within the context of recent strategic guidance. This guidance calls for a whole-of-government approach to build partner capacity. Much of the current security cooperation structure, organization, and funding authorities developed over the course of the Cold War, however, and focused on building the defense capability of allies and security partners against the threat of Soviet expansion. The current strategic environment, in contrast to the Cold War era, includes threats from transnational and subnational actors. Terrorism and insurgency have moved from the periphery to the forefront of security concerns. This monograph examines two case studies at the geographic combatant command level to evaluate their organizational structure and interagency processes within this new context. The monograph then examines the new DOD funding authority, Section 1206, to determine its utility as a model for future security cooperation funding initiatives. This monograph finds that the requirements for Department of State and Department of Defense collaboration under Section 1206 foster the type of interagency cooperation advocated in recent strategic guidance. ACRONYMS * INTRODUCTION * DEVELOPMENT OF THE SECURITY COOPERATION STRUCTURE * Origins of U.S. Security Cooperation * Evolution of Security Cooperation * Current Security Cooperation Structure * Challenges * STRATEGIC GUIDANCE * National Security Strategy (NSS) 2011 * National Defense Strategy (NDS) 2008 * National Military Strategy (NMS) 2011 * Defense Strategic Guidance (2012) * Defense Budget Priorities (2012). * Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) (2010) * CASE STUDIES * AFRICOM * SOUTHCOM * AFRICOM and SOUTHCOM Compared * SECTION 1206 * 1206 Background * 1206 Implementation * Assessment * CONCLUSION * BIBLIOGRAPHY * FOOTNOTES
As Africa’s strategic importance has increased over the past decade and a half, United States security cooperation with the continent has expanded. The most visible dimension of this increased engagement was the establishment of the U.S. Military Command for Africa (AFRICOM). Some critics are skeptical of AFRICOM’s purpose and see the militarization of U.S. Africa policy while others question its effectiveness. Recognizing the link between development and security, AFRICOM represents a departure from the traditional organization of military commands because of its holistic approach and the involvement of the Department of State as well as other U.S. government stakeholders. Nevertheless, AFRICOM’s effort to combine security and development faces formidable conceptual and operational challenges in trying to ensure both American and African security interests. The human security perspective’s emphasis on issues that go beyond traditional state-centered security to include protecting individuals from threats of hunger, disease, crime, environmental degradation, and political repression as well as focusing on social and economic justice is an important component of security policy. At the same time, the threat of violent extremism heavily influences U.S. security cooperation with Africa. In this examination of the context of U.S.-African security relations, Robert J. Griffiths outlines the nature of the African state, traces the contours of African conflict, surveys the post-independence history of U.S. involvement on the continent, and discusses policy organization and implementation and the impact of U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan on the U.S.-Africa security relationship. Africa’s continuing geostrategic significance, the influence of China and other emerging markets in the region, and America’s other global engagements, especially in light of U.S. fiscal realities, demonstrate the complexity of U.S.-African security cooperation.
