Africom will further our cooperation with Africa

GENERAL WILLIAM E. WARD* | Wednesday December 5, 2007 00:00

My second trip to Africa brings me to Botswana, a strong partner of the U.S. - and to Gaborone, the home of the Southern African Development Community. I also will travel to Angola and Gabon, and meet with leaders from the Economic Community of Central African States.

I have two goals for this visit:  First, I am here to talk to leaders about AFRICOM from my perspective - to explain my vision for the organisation and how we intend to enhance the great work already taking place. Second, I am here to listen - so that AFRICOM and our work is harmonised with the goals our partners and the regional economic communities have set for themselves.

Following my confirmation by the U.S. Senate in September, U.S. AFRICOM became what I call a 'headquarters under construction.' We are constructing this organisation using some enduring themes: 

First, we are building the team, assembling our folks and creating an organisation that allows the Department of Defence, for the first time, to consolidate all its programmes in Africa under one staff structure, instead of having our efforts dispersed among three different regional commands.

U.S. AFRICOM is innovative.  It will include people from other parts of the U.S. government, such as the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and others. We want a more integrated approach so that our security assistance better support our overall policy goals for economic development, trade promotion and health advances in Africa - and that we achieve even better results for the people of Africa.

Let me be very clear in stating that the U.S. Department of State will stay in the lead of our nation's foreign policy. The creation of AFRICOM does not change that. Nor does it impact the considerable development assistance that is already being provided through our Agency for International Development and others. AFRICOM will play a supportive role, and will everything in our power not to disrupt or confuse current and ongoing U.S. government or partner nation efforts on the continent.

Second, we want to bring added-value to the security cooperation programmes and activities that are already taking place at the request of our African friends. These include peacekeeping training, maritime and border security programmes, air safety, individual education training, medical readiness training, and combined military exercises.  With a dedicated staff, AFRICOM can enhance these programmes through better planning, coordination and integration - both inside our Department of Defence and with our partners.

Third, our intent is to build mutual trust, respect and confidence through a  sustained relationship. I want African leaders to see AFRICOM as a reliable and consistent partner in helping them achieve greater capacity to address the security challenges they face, as well as be able to export that increased capacity across the continent where it is needed.

To be sure, strong bonds of friendship and a common vision for the future are critical to understanding each other's challenges and opportunities. I am determined to lead a learning organisation that will evolve through sustained interactions with our African partners.

In closing, I believe ultimately that the success of AFRICOM will be measured in the value we add to the efforts of our African partners. We share common interests - that of bringing peace, security and prosperity to the people of Africa. That is my goal as the commander of AFRICOM. 

Again, thank you for being here. I look forward to taking any specific questions you might have about the command.

*Ward is the Commander of AFRICOM. He delivered this address at a Press Conference on Monday 3rd December at the American Embassy.