Latest news with #AFRICOM
Business Insider
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
US Africa Command set to welcome new leader as Trump replaces Langley
President Donald Trump has initiated a leadership transition at the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) as Marine General Michael Langley's two-year term nears its conclusion. President Donald Trump has initiated a leadership change at the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). Marine General Michael Langley, the outgoing commander, will be succeeded by Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson. The transition in AFRICOM leadership reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to maintain security cooperation in Africa. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson as the next commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which oversees American military operations and partnerships across most of the African continent. Anderson, who currently serves as Director of Joint Force Development for the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, will succeed Marine General Michael Langley, whose two-year term is drawing to a close.. General Langley made history in 2022 as the first Black four-star general in the U.S. Marine Corps and the first African American to lead AFRICOM. The new appointment signals President Donald Trump's intention to preserve the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) as an independent combatant command amid ongoing debates in Washington over its relevance and future. With Africa's rising geopolitical significance, marked by increasing Chinese, Russian, and Middle Eastern influence, maintaining AFRICOM's autonomy is seen by many analysts as a clear assertion of U.S. commitment to security and diplomatic engagement across the continent. AFRICOM's Sahel struggles under Langley AFRICOM plays a critical role in overseeing U.S. military operations and partnerships across Africa, with a central focus on counterterrorism, strategic military training, and support for regional stability. However, in recent times, the command has found itself at the center of renewed scrutiny and geopolitical controversy, particularly regarding its position on the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a coalition of West African nations including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso that have shifted toward military-led governance and distanced themselves from traditional Western alliances. Although Langley had maintained that its mission is not to dictate political transitions but to counter the growing threat of terrorism, particularly in the Sahel, his recent remarks have drawn international attention for their candid tone. Speaking at a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this year, Langley directly linked the surge in terrorist activity in the Sahel to external actors exploiting regional instability. He warned that ' terrorist groups are financing operations through illicit gold trade, ' singling out Burkina Faso as a key flashpoint where extremist groups have gained control of mines and routes vital to the black-market gold economy. ' Burkina Faso has lost significant state control in many of its northern regions, ' Langley said, ' and violent extremist organizations are profiting from gold trafficking, which helps them expand influence and buy weapons. ' He emphasized that such developments undermine regional stability and pose long-term threats to both African and U.S. security interests. These comments were interpreted by some African observers as a thinly veiled critique of the military regimes in the AES bloc, many of which have expelled Western forces, including French troops, and invited Russian or regional military support instead. As AFRICOM prepares for a change in leadership, Langley's warnings about terrorist financing and the consequences of political isolation in the Sahel remain urgent reminders of the complex security dynamics the next commander will inherit.
Morocco World
12-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
AFRICOM Chief Rules Out Move to Morocco, Citing Budgetary Reasons
Rabat – General Michael Langley, the head of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), said this week that the idea of relocating the command's headquarters from Germany to Morocco is not under consideration, primarily due to budgetary reasons. Langley made the remarks in response to a question from Congressman Abe Hamadeh before the US House Military Affairs Committee. 'I know you have a lot of positive things to say about Morocco, and I do as well, as they were the first country to recognize the United States' independence, and it seems like their alliance is increasing with us,' the congressman said. He then asked whether the US command seeks to relocate its headquarters from Germany to Morocco. In response, Langley stressed that the operational benefit of moving to Morocco would not outweigh the financial cost. 'The benefit operationally of us being able to operate from Stuttgard headquarters onto it does not benefit in an amount the cost of moving to headquarters would be a big dent for our budget,' the AFRICOM chief said. He added that it is more advantageous for AFRICOM to consider the overall cost. 'We would not benefit from moving our headquarters onto the African continent,' Langley stated. He concluded his remarks by stressing the importance of Morocco as a 'great partner,' noting that what the North African country does in exporting security is tremendous. In May, Morocco hosted the 21st edition of the African Lion military exercise, the largest in Africa. The event brought together military representatives from the US and several other countries, taking part in military exercises against security threats, including terrorism. US officials have consistently described Morocco as a strategic ally in countering security threats across the region and beyond. In March, Langley emphasized the importance of Morocco as a strategic partner, noting that African armies are viewing Rabat as a model. 'Morocco is a reference in defense and stability,' he said, expressing confidence that the partnership between the two countries will continue to grow and contribute to the continent's stability and security. Throughout the years, the US remained the largest exporter of arms to Morocco with 69% of the global imports, followed by France and Israel. In light of these close military ties, several lobbyists have been campaigning against Morocco, which has been hosting the maneuver for 21 years now. Former republican senator James Inhofe was among the most staunch supporters of Polisario in Washington, continuously maneuvering against Morocco. 'I have pushed [the Pentagon] to look at alternative locations for the annual African Lion military exercise that's been hosted in Morocco previously,' news website Defense News recently quoted Inhofe as saying at a hearing in 2022. 'I'm pleased that [Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin] is in agreement with me on this issue.' Nonetheless, AFRICOM officials have long defended Morocco's hosting of the exercise, acknowledging that it will be difficult to find an African country able to replicate what Morocco has been able to do over the years as the host of the African Lion. Tags: AFRICOMrelations between the US and Morocco
Ya Biladi
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
AFRICOM chief praises Morocco but rules out HQ move from Germany
Speaking yesterday in Washington, General Michael Langley, head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), addressed the Military Affairs Committee on security developments across the African continent. He dismissed, for the time being, the prospect of relocating AFRICOM's headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany, to Morocco. «From an operational perspective, the cost-benefit analysis... the benefit of moving to Morocco wouldn't exceed the cost», he said in response to a question from Republican Representative Abraham Hamadeh. «I would say from a cost analysis perspective, I think we are advantageous where we are right now when we look at the overall cost. We would not be benefiting from moving our headquarters onto the African continent», Langley added. Nevertheless, Langley, who has led AFRICOM since August 2022, underscored Morocco's strategic importance. «Morocco is a great partner, and what they do in exporting security is tremendous, especially in the sub-Saharan countries», he noted.
Axios
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
The American war too few talk about
The U.S. military is bombing extremist groups in the Horn of Africa, executing at least 32 strikes in Somalia this year alone. That's more than double the previous year's tally, according to Africa Command, and is a sign of enduring extremism concerns back in Washington. Why it matters: This is a war too few in the U.S. are discussing — or even realize is happening. By the numbers: American forces, in cooperation with local government, targeted ISIS-Somalia 20 times and al-Shabab 12 times between Feb. 1 and June 4. The strike cadence has surged in recent months, with roughly twice as many attacks in April and May (19 in total) as in the previous two months, AFRICOM announcements and posts on social media show. The command reported three strikes this month, all on ISIS-Somalia. The operations often target areas southeast of Bosaso, a coastal town on the Gulf of Aden, and areas northwest of Kismayo, a port near the Kenyan border. The intrigue: Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby at a Council on Foreign Relations event in May said the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group "launched the largest airstrike in the history of the world: 125,000 pounds from a single aircraft carrier into Somalia." The Trump administration loosened rules for airstrikes and other raids earlier this year. Washington has released few details on casualties, civilian or militant. An early February strike reportedly killed 14 ISIS-Somalia operatives, including a recruiter and financier. The latest: AFRICOM boss Gen. Michael Langley, a Marine, on Tuesday told Congress that Africa "remains a nexus theater from which the United States cannot afford to shift its gaze." "It is home to terrorists who take advantage of conditions in Africa to grow and export their ideology," he added. "ISIS controls their global network from Somalia." Context: Several U.S. administrations have become entangled in the region. Perhaps the most infamous instance — the Battle of Mogadishu, associated with "Black Hawk Down" — occurred under President Clinton. Zoom out: While this contemporary campaign is limited to Somalia, the threat from ISIS, al-Shabab and other extremist groups is not. It's particularly acute across the Sahel, where violence and worsening weather fuels political instability. U.S. forces withdrew from Niger last year, following a coup. France also dramatically reduced its military presence in West Africa under pressure from local leaders. Russia has entrenched its own influence in several states in West and Central Africa, via its Wagner mercenaries. On Monday, the Kremlin reiterated its desire to step up cooperation with African countries in "such sensitive areas as defense and security," Reuters reported. The bottom line: The fight "in Africa is the least understood or covered," Alex Plitsas, a counterterrorism expert at the Atlantic Council, told Axios.
India.com
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
China's big move in Africa scares US, Pentagon afraid due to...
New Delhi: The growing number of African military officers getting training in China has troubled America. A top American military official said that the Chinese army is copying their training programme for African military officers. Meanwhile, China is expanding its presence in Africa with military aid, arms and weapons sales, which experts have warned could reduce American influence. Till now America's influence was considered to be the highest in African countries. But, in recent years China and Russia have expanded their influence. Russia has deployed its private militia in many African countries. US-China Africa tussle General Michael Langley, who leads the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), warned that China was copying training programmes such as the US International Military Education and Training (IMET), which provides grant-based training to foreign military and civilian personnel, the South China Morning Post reported. 'They (China) are trying to replicate what we do best in our IMET programme,' Langley said during a conference of Africa's defence chiefs in Nairobi last week. US turns its back on Africa The warning comes at a time when the Trump administration is shifting its approach from providing military aid to making African countries self-reliant. China is a major supplier of military equipment, especially in the Sahel, as junta-led leaders are increasingly pulling away from their Western partners such as the USA and France. IMET has seen thousands of Africans go through the programme, but President Donald Trump's move to cut foreign aid has hurt such programmes. While the US has trained thousands of African military officers and continues to do so, their number is stagnant or declining. In contrast, Beijing has stepped up its training for African military officers. Last month, China hosted about 100 young and mid-career African military officers from 40 countries as part of its long-term strategy to deepen defence ties across the continent. China wooing Africa At last year's China-Africa cooperation summit in Beijing, President Xi Jinping pledged to invite 500 young African military officers to China and train 6,000 African military personnel over the three years to 2027. China will also provide 1 billion yuan (US$139 million) in military aid as part of efforts to boost its global security initiatives. China replacing the US in Africa According to David Shin, former US ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ethiopia and current professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, in the report, both the US and China have provided training to African military personnel at various levels of their careers for many years. However, in recent years the number of those trained in the US has remained relatively stable, while Beijing appears to be significantly increasing the number of those trained in China.
