AFRICOM is not an African IT company, though the name would be fitting for one. Neither is it a communication entity. No at all. AFRICOM is a military command to coordinate all US security interests in Africa.
This command is already in incubation at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart Germany and is intended to touch ground in Africa come September 2008. Unofficial information has it that the leading producer of diamonds in the World, Botswana, will be the station for this command.
Ryan Henry, US principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy says AFRICOM is focused on African solutions directed and controlled by Africans. Sounds funny but familiar, uuh?
Africom area of duty.
There is oil in Africa and more wells are being discovered. African states want to integrate, albeit economically for the moment. Exportation of raw materials is being streamlined around the continent. The dragon that is China is all over marking the continent red.
It is around these facts that AFRICOM has interests. Not Somalia, Darfur, HIV/AIDS, development, Malaria, infant motality etc.
AFRICOM US version here.
map credit: defenselink.mil
2 comments:
Am not all excited about AFRICOM. African governments should refuse hosting it. Want to safeguard American and African interests? Use diplomacy and trade, not tanks and armor.
You will need guns and tanks at some point in the real world. Take for example the number of oil tankers heading out of African waters. How will we police or toll the billion tons of oil being stolen?
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