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ManagementAdministration and Management

Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa

Authors: Lauren Ploch; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
Abstract:
On February 6, 2007, the Bush Administration announced its intention to create a new unified combatant command, U.S. Africa Command or AFRICOM, to promote U.S. national security objectives in Africa and its surrounding waters. U.S. military involvement on the continent is currently divided among three commands: U.S. European Command (EUCOM), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM). As envisioned by the Administration, the new command's area of responsibility (AOR) would include all African countries except Egypt. In recent years, analysts and U.S. policymakers have noted Africa's growing strategic importance to U.S. interests. Among those interests are Africa's role in the Global War on Terror and the potential threats posed by uncontrolled spaces; the growing importance of Africa's energy resources; and ongoing concern for Africa's many humanitarian crises, armed conflicts, and challenges such as the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS. As defined by the Department of Defense (DoD), AFRICOM's mission will be to promote U.S. strategic objectives by working with African states and regional organizations to help strengthen stability and security in the region through improved security capability, military professionalization, and accountable governance. A transition team has begun establishment of the new command, which is expected to begin as a subunified command under EUCOM by October 2007 and achieve full capability as a stand-alone command by October 2008. This report provides a broad overview of U.S. strategic interests in Africa and the role of U.S. military efforts there as they pertain to the creation of AFRICOM. Although the command is still being planned, a discussion of AFRICOM's mission, its coordination with other government agencies, and its basing and manpower requirements is included. Appendixes provide a history of U.S. military involvement in Africa and a chronology of the use of U.S. Armed Forces in Africa from 1950-2006.

Description: Congressional rept.
Pages: 39
Report Date: 06 JUL 2007
Report Number: A241574

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Keywords relating to this report:
*AFRICA
*COOPERATION
*MILITARY ASSISTANCE
*MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
*MILITARY FORCES_UNITED STATES_
*MISSIONS
*ORGANIZATIONAL REALIGNMENT
*SECURITY
CONFLICT
COSTS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CRUDE OIL
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DIPLOMACY
HISTORY
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUSES
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
MANPOWER
MILITARY TRAINING
STABILITY
THREATS
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