Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs on AFRICOM Mr M Nkosi, Deputy Director-General: Africa Bilateral Cape Town 20 February 2008.

Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs

on AFRICOM

Mr M Nkosi, Deputy Director-General: Africa Bilateral

Cape Town20 February 2008

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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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USEUCOM

USCENTCOM

USSOUTHCOM

USNORTHCOM

USPACOM

Draft Area of Responsibility: Restructuring of Africom from EUCOM to a fully fledged Command for Africa

Draft Pre-decisional Working Papers, not subject to FOIA Requirements

Current Full Operational Capability (Draft)

USEUCOM

USCENTCOM

USSOUTHCOM

USNORTHCOM

USPACOM

USAFRICOM

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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• 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

• 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