CIAO DATE: 09/2008
July 2007
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
This month, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will appoint a commander for the newly created U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). Set to launch sometime this fall and become fully operational with 1,000 American personnel by September 2008, AFRICOM will be responsible for all African countries except Egypt. Although no African state poses a direct threat to the United States, Washington is concerned about the growth of al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups throughout the continent. Africa has the fastest population growth rate in the world, and several of its countries, such as Nigeria, Angola, Libya, and Sudan, are important sources of crude oil.
By placing Africa under a single commander, AFRICOM will herald a new mindset regarding U.S. policy in the region. Similarly, the chosen location (or locations) of the new command's headquarters will be a symbol of American priorities and prestige on the continent. Although the greater Middle East will now fall within the jurisdiction of three commands rather than two, AFRICOM's creation signals an important structural rethinking of the U.S. military's view of the region.
Resource link: PolicyWatch #1259: AFRICOM: A New American Military Command [PDF] - 13K