Why AFRICOM? An American Perspective

The briefing explains the transition from a Cold War-era division of Africa among three U.S. regional commands to the creation of AFRICOM. It asserts that the new command is a response to post-9/11 security realities where instability in undeveloped countries can pose global threats. The author emphasizes that AFRICOM is a staff headquarters, not a troop headquarters, and will not establish permanent military bases. Its primary goal is to support African leadership and the African Union through a 'Civil/Military Activities Directorate' that integrates Department of Defense efforts with State Department and USAID goals to prevent crises through security sector reform and capacity building.

• The creation of AFRICOM is driven by a shift in U.S. security paradigms following 9/11, recognizing that threats can emerge from the poorest and least secure countries, making African stability a matter of U.S. national interest rather than just a humanitarian concern.
• AFRICOM is designed as a staff headquarters rather than a troop headquarters, and its establishment will not involve creating new permanent U.S. military bases on the continent.
• The command's primary objective is prevention over reaction, aiming to build the capacity of African nations to reduce conflict and deny sanctuary to terrorists to prevent problems from escalating into catastrophes.
• To facilitate non-kinetic missions, AFRICOM will feature a unique 'Directorate for Civil/Military Activities' led by a State Department senior official, integrating military and civilian expertise from agencies such as USAID, Treasury, and Justice.
• AFRICOM is intended to complement and support the African Union's peace and security architecture, specifically by providing training and technical support for the development of the African Standby Force.
• The document rejects the claim that AFRICOM's purpose is to secure U.S. access to oil, stating instead that it will help African nations develop their own capacities to protect natural resources from illegal exploitation.
• U.S. policy toward Africa remains dominated by trade, health, and development programs, with security assistance funding (approximately US$ 250 million) representing only 1/36th of non-security related spending (nearly US$ 9 billion).

APA

Whelan, T. (2007). Why AFRICOM? An American Perspective. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SITREPAFRICOM170807.PDF

Chicago

Whelan, Theresa. Why AFRICOM? An American Perspective. Institute for Security Studies, 2007. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SITREPAFRICOM170807.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Whelan |first1=Theresa |title=Why AFRICOM? An American Perspective |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=17 August 2007 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SITREPAFRICOM170807.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{whelan2007why, author = {Whelan, Theresa}, title = {{Why AFRICOM? An American Perspective}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2007}, month = aug, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SITREPAFRICOM170807.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }