AFRICOM Helps African Nations Build Their Own Secure Future

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- During an April 7 DoD Live bloggers roundtable discussion, a top official for U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) said the command's mission is to support the work of African nations in creating African solutions for African challenges.

Vice Adm. Robert T. Moeller, the deputy to the commander for military operations at AFRICOM, explained what the command does - and what it does not do.

"We do not lead or create policy," stressed Moeller.

Instead, Moeller said, "Our programs are designed to respond to what our African partners have asked us to do."

He said African nations want to provide for their own security, but they welcome help building strong, effective and professional forces.

Many operations, such as Africa Partnership Station and the African Maritime Law Enforcement Program, address crimes carried out at sea, such as illegal fishing and drug trafficking, said Moeller.

He added that these maritime problems have a negative impact across the continent and are especially vexing for West African nations.

One of the ways AFRICOM assists is by bringing together experts at events designed to build the capacity of defense forces.

"We send small teams to dozens of countries and offer our perspective on military topics such as leadership, aircraft maintenance, the importance of [having] an inspector-general program, loading equipment onto aircraft for deployment [and] the finer points of air traffic control," said Moeller.

The list of subjects covered also includes port security and military law, Moeller added.

The command also organizes multinational exercises that allow participants to practice working together to solve regional security issues. The communications exercise called Africa Endeavor was so successful in 2009 that Moeller said it will be repeated in 2010, and the number of nations taking part will increase from 25 to 30. Another exercise, called Flintlock, focuses on North and West African nations. It kicks off in May 2010 with participation from European nations.

Sometimes the command assists with civil projects such as digging wells or building schools, said Moeller. Such requests are routed through the U.S. Agency for International Development or in response to requests from U.S. embassies.

While many positive aspects of the command go unnoticed in the press, Moeller said some recent articles have speculated that the U.S. military is involved inside Somalia. Moeller said the reports are untrue.

"We don't plan, nor direct, nor coordinate military operations in Somalia" for Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, said Moeller. And he added, "We have not and will not be providing direct support for any potential military offensives" by Somali government forces. He said that AFRICOM has acted as an advisor and in a training role for nations that provide peacekeeping forces throughout Africa, such as Burundi and Uganda, the main contributors to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

He said the command also listens to the needs of regional economic and political groups, such as the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union.

With regard to piracy in the waters off the Horn of Africa, Moeller also said that AFRICOM supports the work of U.S. Central Command, which has the primary responsibility for U.S. counter-piracy activities in the Gulf of Aden and off the East coast of Somalia.

Overall, the command shares expertise but doesn't proscribe how it should be applied, said Moeller.

"We are not imposing the U.S. way upon our partners, because it might not be the right way for them," he said.

Moeller said he envisions a time when the work of AFRICOM contributes to the kind of sustained security and stability that allows economic development and better living conditions to flourish and to improve the lives of people across the continent.

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