The US is obviously attempting to exert more control over African developments and has established links with Ethiopia, Djibouti, and the transitional Somali government. No doubt it is interested in such oil producing countries as Nigeria. The Chinese of course are looking to develop relationships in Africa with oil producing nations.
U.S. to set up new command in Africa
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 6, 2007 | 11:51 AM ET
The Associated Press
The Pentagon will set up a new command to oversee operations in Africa, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.
Appearing on Capitol Hill, Gates announced that U.S. President George W. Bush approved a Defence Department recommendation that a military structure be set up to oversee missions on the continent, which U.S. officials now believe has greater strategic importance to the United States than it had before.
"The president has decided to stand up a new unified combatant command, Africa Command, to oversee security, co-operation, building partnership capability, defence support to non-military missions, and, if directed, military operations on the African continent," Gates told a congressional hearing on the defence spending that Bush proposed Monday for budget year 2008, which starts in October.
"This command will enable us to have a more effective and integrated approach than the current arrangement of dividing Africa between Central Command and European Command, an outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War," Gates said.
The U.S. military has a system under which each region of the world is overseen by a specific command, such as the Pacific Command, Central Command and so on. Africa is now split between commands, which have been increasing activities on the continent greatly in recent years.
The European Command has sent Special Forces to do training exercises in North African countries and done humanitarian projects, medical training and other missions, such as harbour maintenance in oil-producing nations in the Gulf of Guinea.
The various types of operations are aimed at building partnerships and strengthening the ability of African governments and militaries to do their jobs. The hope is that the efforts will make nations there less vulnerable to the recruiting efforts of terrorists and help catch those already using it as a safe haven.
Officials say that Africa also is strategically more important because of increased efforts by China to involve itself and gain influence on the continent.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
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