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

2 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

3 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.

4 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

5 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

6 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

7 EVALUATION Establishment of AFRICOM met with varying degrees of concern, acceptance and rejection AFRICOM widely recognised as emanating from US Strategic interests in Africa

8 USEUCOM USCENTCOM USSOUTHCOMUSSOUTHCOM USNORTHCOMUSNORTHCOM 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 USSOUTHCOMUSSOUTHCOM USNORTHCOMUSNORTHCOM USPACOMUSPACOM USAFRICOM

9 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

10 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

11 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 February 2008 –Commission did not discuss AFRICOM

12 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

13 WAYFORWARD Continue monitoring developments around AFRICOM Discuss matter, as appropriate, within Africa’s multilateral institutions

14 Thank you