Guinea troops. Zim Telegraph photo.
by DAVID AXE
The emerging U.S. military strategy for Africa stresses partnership over direct intervention. In other words, we team up with African armies, boost their training and equipment, then let them handle their continent’s security problems themselves. It’s a proxy approach.
There’s at least on big potential pitfall. In Africa, as in Latin America, armies can be major destabilizing elements within their own governments. In Guinea, Army officers have backed coup leaders striving for military government. Just last week, the Guinean government arrested army Colonel Moussa Keita for backing an exiled coup leader.
I asked Major General William Garrett, commander of U.S. Army Africa, how his force avoids inadvertently boosting the wrong people. “AFRICOM and U.S. Army Africa focus and apply resources based on policy guidance from the U.S. government,” Garrett said:
Currently, the top five priorities for U.S. government engagement in Africa are: supporting strong and stable democracies and good governance; fostering sustained economic growth and development; strengthening public health; preventing, mitigating, and resolving armed conflict; and helping to address transnational challenges.
When applying resources, AFRICOM and U.S. Army Africa work shoulder-to-shoulder with our military and non-military partners as part of a larger U.S. and international effort. This comprehensive approach is the best way to prevent the challenges that you mention in your question.
Related:
Guinea Tribe Arms as War Fears Grow
U.S. Army Africa: Big Mission, Tiny Staff
U.S. Army Africa Boss: “The U.S. Army is Responding to the Challenge in Africa … “
U.S. Army in Africa: Dodging the Continent’s Worst Wars
Related posts:
[...] General William Garrett, commander of U.S. Army Africa recently stated that AFRICOM and U.S. Army Africa focus and apply resources based on policy guidance from the U.S. [...]