Africa is set to become a major flashpoint for the U.S. military. Although the stated strategy is “countering violent extremist groups” on the continent, the next general in charge of U.S. forces in Africa has made it clear that the goal is to protect “western interests.”

In his confirmation hearing to take over the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), U.S. Army General David Rodriguez told Congress that it would be important to stem the growth of certain groups in northern and eastern Africa.

Rodriguez, who previously was a senior commander in Afghanistan, said a “major challenge” would be stopping the expansion of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb in Mali, the Boko Haram in Nigeria, and al-Shabaab in Somalia.

“Each present a threat to western interests in Africa,” he told lawmakers, and are “the major threats to stability, militarily” in the region.

Rodriguez wants more resources for the Africa Command, which was established only six years ago. It needs more drones, surveillance aircraft and satellite imagery, according to the general.

Craig Whitlock of The Washington Post wrote: “When U.S. military officials created the Africa Command in 2007, they insisted they did not have plans to create bases or move troops to the continent. Since then, however, the Pentagon has gradually assembled a network of small staging bases, including drone installations in Ethiopia and the Seychelles, and a forward operating base for special operations forces in Kenya.”

AFRICOM is based at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart-Moehringen, Germany.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Military’s Next Africa Chief Indicates 3 Terror Groups Are on His Hit List (by Spencer Ackerman, Wired)

At Pentagon, ‘Pivot To Asia’ Becomes ‘Shift To Africa’ (by Craig Whitlock, Washington Post)

U.S. to Expand Drone Operations with New Base in West Africa (by Noel Brinkerhoff and Danny Biederman, AllGov)

U.S. Military Contractors Move into Africa (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Overlooked U.S. Military Blunder in Africa (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)