Africom

U.S. military activity now overshadows diplomacy and development in Africa after the establishment of the military US Command for Africa (Africom) in 2007. Formed under the George W. Bush administration, AFRICOM consolidates U.S. military operations in Africa under one military command.  The establishment of this new command has led to suspicion from African governments and concern from civil society.

An additional concern is that Africom is part of a further militarization of U.S. foreign policy.  Africom is somewhat unique as a command because it was formed with the intention of embracing the 3D approach, which integrates defense, development, and diplomacy.  Several U. S. Department of Defense officials have called Africom a “combatant command ‘plus,’” referring to the command’s “soft power” mission, which incorporates development and diplomacy. 

While other U.S. commands have some degree of civilian integration, Africom reflects the 3D mission of current U.S. foreign policy by integrating staff from the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and other U.S. government agencies into its structure. But the precedence of defense over development and diplomacy in Africom means that instability in Africa will be handled primarily through military “solutions” that fail to address the root causes of conflict. 

The Obama administration is continuing the Bush policies by increasing Africom’s budget and expanding foreign military assistance and military training programs to African countries.  Africom’s formidable budget and number of personnel far outweigh that of the Department of State and USAID. 

This imbalance of resources not only runs the risk of over-militarizing small and underdeveloped nations, but also becomes the face of U.S. foreign policy toward Africa.  Prioritizing military expansion over investment in sustainable economic development ensures a continuation of the colonial cycle of poverty and insecurity for the people of Africa.  The United States must dramatically change its current policy course for Africa by heavily investing in programs that promote democracy, human rights, and economic wellbeing, while respecting the voices of African civil society.