The United States Africa Command: Enhancing American security or fostering African development?

Abstract

This paper scrutinises the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) by raising a number of questions to unravel its true purpose; either as an instrument to enhance American security interests in Africa or to foster African development as claimed by the US. It contends that Western strategic / security needs in Africa would be best assured not by using military means to check China or terrorism in Africa, but rather by looking to meaningfully address the continent's human security needs that are amplified both by unfair trade relations between it and the West, and by the benign neglect and scrounging relationship that has historically enabled, cuddled and protected corrupt and self-centred leaders to do their bidding throughout the continent. The paper concludes that Africa is perhaps witnessing the beginnings of a new era in global relations - post-modern neo-colonialism - as its growing global strategic importance is setting it up for competition among Europe, America and China; implying that the potential exists for a second scramble that will lead to Africa's repartitioning into docile political entities that lack any genuine capacity for autonomous action.