The US military is redefining its approach to security in Africa, shifting from a “whole of government” strategy that emphasized good governance and countering insurgencies’ underlying causes to one that focuses on burden-sharing with fragile allies. The new messaging comes as the US makes moves to build a leaner, more lethal force, including potentially cutting military leadership positions.
The change was evident at African Lion, the US military’s largest joint training exercise on the continent, where Gen. Michael Langley emphasized the need for partners to take ownership of independent operations. “We need to be able to get our partners to the level of independent operations,” he said.
The US has traditionally argued that its approach sets it apart from Russia and China, but now, it’s calling on allies to build capacity to manage their own security. The strategy shift comes as the US faces increasing competition from these rival powers in Africa.
China has launched a training program for African militaries, while Russian mercenaries are solidifying their role as security partners in North, West, and Central Africa. In contrast, the US military’s “whole of government approach” no longer occupies center stage, although Langley acknowledged that holistic efforts have worked in some cases, such as Ivory Coast.
However, such successes are not a pattern. Insurgencies continue to gain ground, with the US seeing Africa as a hub for al-Qaida and Islamic State groups. The US has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on security assistance and maintains around 6,500 personnel on the continent, but faces challenges in directly competing with Russia and China.
The new strategy comes at a time when fears grow that rising violence could spread beyond hotspots where insurgents have expanded influence and found vacuums to consolidate power. The US military is working to build resilience in parts of East and West Africa, which have emerged as epicenters of violence, including Somalia and the Sahel region.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/us-military-africa-langley-exercises-8a7adb77f13bf1c9b3271577674863cf