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BACKGROUND

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

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BACKGROUND

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  1. Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairson AFRICOMMr M Nkosi, Deputy Director-General: Africa BilateralCape Town20 February 2008

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. EVALUATION • Establishment of AFRICOM met with varying degrees of concern, acceptance and rejection • AFRICOM widely recognised as emanating from US Strategic interests in Africa

  8. Draft Area of Responsibility: Restructuring of Africom from EUCOM to a fully fledged Command for Africa Full Operational Capability (Draft) Current USNORTHCOM USNORTHCOM USEUCOM USEUCOM USCENTCOM USCENTCOM USAFRICOM USSOUTHCOM USSOUTHCOM USPACOM USPACOM Draft Pre-decisional Working Papers, not subject to FOIA Requirements

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. SA POSITION • 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

  12. US RESPONSE • 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

  13. WAYFORWARD • Continue monitoring developments around AFRICOM • Discuss matter, as appropriate, within Africa’s multilateral institutions

  14. Thank you

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