US committed to assisting Africa in ‘regional threats’

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Julia Cassano

US Africa Command, US Marine Corps General Michael Langley, discussed the priorities for his 10 years as commander and the top regional security challenges in Africa, during an online briefing yesterday.

In his opening remarks, he discussed the primary opportunities in the ways AFRICOM, as a government approach, can work with its African partners. He stressed that AFRICOM’s mission supports the US national security strategy, which recognized Africa as a geo-political force.

“The US is committed to transparency and inclusion regarding working with our African partners to achieve our collective and common goals of security and stabilization across the continent and will continue to develop with our African partners,” he said.

The general shared his reflections whilst visiting several African countries. He said that the African Leaders Summit last December illustrated the US’s enduring commitment to Africa.

“During the chief of defense conference, we were able to build upon that momentum whilst also sharing ideas, best practices, and strategies,” he said. A strong US Africa relation is a crucial foundation for the shared future, as African nations are shaping the present as well as the future as we work together to achieve collective goals, in a quest for prosperity throughout the African continent, he said.

“In Africa, we are facing enduring challenges such as countering the spread of extremist organizations, improving our collective maritime capacity to combat illegal and unreported fishing.” The US also plans to build new partners and relations to meet shared challenges.

The general discussed exercises nearing such as Flintlock, an exercise including over 29 nations from South American countries to North America, that addresses issues regarding the spectrum of security, from crisis response to counterterrorism.

“Our European partners will engage with our African partners to build on interoperability and capacity to address CT challenges and to build on the capability for crisis response.” “African Lion, a large-scale exercise, addresses transregional threats, and complex security problems that face many countries by bringing in realistic training and partnering with the collective countries that are involved in the exercise.”

General Langley highlighted the progression of President Sheikh Mohamud’s campaign against al Shabab, to disrupt terrorist operations and achieve the country’s stabilisation goals. He also stated that the US is in full support of the campaign, as well as keeping its US presence.

“We are helping him address his complex security strategy by building capacity within the Somali National Army.” He also pointed out Kenya’s, Djibouti, and Ethiopia’s efforts towards building enforced generations and training for the Somali National Army as they are aware of the al Shabab threats that threaten their borders as well.

“They are assisting an enforced generation of the Somali National Army, and I am very optimistic as indications have shown future success going forward.” Morocco and Tunisia were amongst some of the countries the general has visited, and recently visited Algeria, and said that among his travelling to the countries, there are many commonalities across North Africa.

“Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya are making progress through the diplomatic route to come together, and collectively, I consider all of them partners, and they have a particular interest in the whole continent of Africa aiming to create stability, whilst also addressing terrorist threats and how that affects the stabilisation of a country.”