AFRICOM Resources
AFRICOM: Key Facts and Concerns
A summary of key issues by the ResistAFRICOM coalition
AFRICOM Action Kit
September 2009
Download this action Kit by Beth Tuckey to mobilize your community or campus around this important issue!
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Audio/Video
WITNESS: America's New Frontline
September 2009
Aljazeera's Rageh Omaar investigates the US military and political strategy for Africa in this mutli-part video series, outlining the formulation of AFRICOM and the current and historic track record of the U.S. military in Africa. Includes interviews with coalition members Emira Woods from IPS and Gerald LeMell from Africa Action
AFRICOM and the Obama Administration
April 2009
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Papers/Research
Making Peace or Fueling War in Africa
March 2009
An in-depth analysis of theory behind AFRICOM and its track record to date. Published by Foreign Policy in Focus, Paper by Daniel Volman and William Minter
AFRICOM and the Obama Administration
December 2008
Paper by Daniel Volman
October 2008
By Chioma Oruh
AFRICOM: The New Military Command for Africa
June 2008
by Daniel Volman
AFRICOM: STATEMENT OF CONCERN (October 2007)
We are a group of concerned U.S. and Africa based organizations and individuals opposed to the creation of
AFRICOM. AFRICOM represents the expansion of the role of the U.S. military – potentially shifting the
face of disaster response and humanitarian assistance from civilians to military personnel. Our vision is a
comprehensive U.S. foreign policy grounded in true partnership with the African Union, African
governments, and civil society on peace, justice, security, and development.
Africa Action
Africa Faith and Justice Network
African Security Research Project
Arms and Security Initiative, New America Foundation
Association of Concerned Africa Scholars
Center for Democratic Empowerment, Liberia
Foreign Policy In Focus
Missionaries of Africa
Pan Africa Network, Oakland CA
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Justice and Peace Office
Resolve Uganda
TransAfrica Forum
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Washington Office on Africa
The Hip Hop Caucus
John Cavanagh, Institute For Policy Studies
Alternatives and Recommendations for AFRICOM
Instead of establishing a military command, the US government should promote a just security doctrine. AFRICOM is not what the people of Africa need and it is not what will achieve long-term stability on the continent. What is needed is a boost in education, job opportunities, health care, debt relief, fair trade policies, and many other things that would ensure development, peace and prosperity.
With enough pressure from the American people, Congress can decline to fund AFRICOM in the coming defense appropriations cycle. President Bush recently unveiled his FY2009 Defense Budget. Within it, he requested $389 million for the AFRICOM headquarter operations in Stuttgart, millions more for operations on the continent, and a continuation of the funding for the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa located in Djibouti.
It is our hope that Congress will take this stand against AFRICOM. However, if AFRICOM must be established, we insist that:
- The role of Ambassadors as point-persons in US-Africa policy is maintained and that the command structure is delineated to ensure that diplomatic efforts do not fall under the jurisdiction of the military.
- Congress has sufficient oversight whether through regular reports or a special committee.
- Restrictions are placed on funding to ensure that private military sub-contractors are never used to carry out the mandate of AFRICOM.
- Restrictions are placed on funding to ensure that the military is under the same guidance as the State Department and that human rights violations never occur.
- When training and equipping foreign armies, local communities are made fully aware of US presence and its intended goals.
- The military acts in the most culturally respectful way possible when engaging in activities on the continent.
- Every decision is made with the interests of Africans in mind.