Pentagon Finalizes Creating Actual Africa Command
By Scott A. Morgan
The ongoing crises in Africa have finally prompted the Pentagon and the outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to finally initiate a unified Military Command for Africa. The timing for this concept that is reportedly in its final stages may be crucial. An individual observer cannot escape the international news reports without hearing of reports from the US State Department or an American Embassy or even the UN warning of an impending conflict that is brewing in Somalia.
The head of the US European Command testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee and informed the legislators that over 65% of its current operations are currently in Africa. There are no reports of the number of operations currently being conducted in Africa by other Key Commands that deal with Africa most notably the Central and Pacific Commands. The Central Command has a Joint Task Force currently on the Ground in Djibouti coordinating activities with Regional Allies and with France.
This forward deployment base in Djibouti along with a naval base in Mombassa, Kenya may be crucial installations if the situation within Somalia deteriorates into a regional war that could draw in both African States like Kenya and Ethiopia but some Arab States like Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The African Countries are supporting the Current Transitional Government in Baidoa while the Union of Islamic Courts has received support from Arab States that both support the US in the War on Terror and also like Iran are admitted Adversaries of the United States.
What other conflicts could be influenced by this Command? First this proposed Military Force can provide the much needed Logistical Support that the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur is seriously lacking. In this aspect the long-suffering Governments in both Chad and the Central African Republic, which have both seen an increase in the scope of Rebel Offensives can receive US, aid as well. In 2004 US Recon Aircraft flew in support of Chadian Government Forces in the East of the Country to counter a past rebel Offensive. It is believed that Sudan's Intelligence Agency is providing backing for both rebellions.
Where else in Africa could US Forces intervene? 
Well currently under the Trans-Saharan Counter-terrorism Initiative (TSCI) there are US Special Forces currently in West Africa searching for Al-Qaeda and repairing infrastructure in countries such as Mali and Niger. There are upcoming elections in Nigeria in April of 2007. So would American Troops go into the Oil-Rich Niger Delta to secure access to what is the Nation's Primary source of Energy? Stay tuned for that one. And what of the regional conflict in the Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivorie)? What of the recent elections in The Gambia and the shakeup of the Government? It also has a controversial Treason Trial that just began as well.
With the resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld and the nomination of Robert Gates to replace him one can fairly ask if the Secretary-Designate will continue with the Plan to implement this Command? It should be argued that a unified command would eliminate some critical delays in the decision making at both the Pentagon and the White House. There is also great support from key allies such as Uganda and Ethiopia as well. So this proposal makes complete strategic and logistical sense.
The author comments on US Policy and Human Rights in Africa. He is a contributor to www.americianchronicle.com and is in the process of starting his own political newsletter. He can be contacted at scott_morgan_23220@yahoo.com