AFRICOM: Protecting US Interests Disguised As ‘Military Partnerships’
By Ebrahim Shabbir Deen for Aljazeera Center for Studies - The first part of the paper discusses the structure of the command, its developmental aspects and the resultant conflict between the US Departments of Defense and State. Part two delves beneath the surface and teases out what might be other, unstated reasons behind AFRICOM’s establishment, including the rise of China, the increasing importance of African oil and the US “war on terror.” Part three discusses the various activities that AFRICOM is involved in and has undertaken since its establishment, including the “state partnership program” which the command has used to penetrate into African military affairs...