By: M. Brandon Maggiore
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) is not only comprised of U.S. Department of Defense officials, but also members of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

AFRICOM started in October, 2007 as a sub-unified command subordinate to U.S. European Command. It is schedule to be an independent combat command by the end of the current fiscal year. It is temporarily located in Stuttgarg, Germany at Kelly Barracks not far for U.S. European Command. AFRICOM will not be located in Africa., and the U.S. will not put AFRICOM offices on the continent unless it adds to the security and assistance that the U.S. can provide to Africa. The placement of AFRICOM offices in Africa would require diplomatic agreement with host nations.

AFRICOM is different from other commands because it will focus on war prevention rather than execution as discussed by AFRICOM’s commander, U.S. Army General William E. “Kip” Ward, in a recent speech.

The response from African countries has been lukewarm and many nations see it as a threat to their sovereignty. Liberia is the only one of Africa’s 53 countries that has offered to host AFRICOM. There is also concern that AFRICOM is an attempt by the U.S. to protect its interest in minerals and natural resources or that it will pull Africa into the U.S. global war on terror.

United States Africa Command – accessed 11 March 2008

BBC News – Aids, oil and Africom on Bush tour – 21 February 2008

World Defense Review – An African Security Update and Why AFRICOM Is Critical – 6 March 2008