CIAO DATE: 07/2008
February 2008
Africa Policy Information Center
Due to the perceived importance of Africa in the U.S. “war on terror” and the increasing U.S. dependence on African oil, President Bush announced on February 6, 2007 the establishment of a Unified Command for U.S. military forces in Africa, known as AFRICOM. According to Bush, “The Africa command will enhance our efforts to bring peace and security to the people of Africa and promote our common goals of development, health, education, democracy, and economic growth in Africa.”2 Africa Action challenges the veracity of this assertion in a recent statement, available at: http://www.africaaction.org/newsroom/docs/AFRICOMStatement082.pdf.
African nations have repeatedly declared their opposition to the hosting of U.S. bases on the African continent and the militarization of their relations with the United States. As a result of this dissent, AFRICOM is currently based in Stuttgart, Germany. Civil society leaders and journalists in Africa have objected that AFRICOM will pursue narrowly defined U.S. interests at the expense of both the sovereignty and welfare of the African nations.
Africa Action stands in solidarity with Africa’s leaders and their citizens against an expanded U.S. military footprint in Africa. This Africa Action resource provides examples of statements from African leaders from multiple regions who stand opposed to this shortsighted re-visioning of U.S-Africa relations.
Resource link: African Voices on AFRICOM [PDF] - 269K