In Search of a Unified Command for Africa
Abstract
The missions, responsibilities, and force structure of a combatant command must adapt to changing strategic environment. As Africa undergoes intense transition, promise and opportunity exist side by side with the perils of civil war, transnational threats, infectious disease, and desperate poverty, which can significantly affect the U.S. national interests in the region. However, the current UCP arrangement division of responsibility for Africa among three commands (USEUCOM, USCENTCOM, and USPACOM) and lacking a dedicated headquarters for Africa does not provide the ideal framework to effectively support the U.S. strategy and meet the current and future challenges in Africa. The U.S. should give a higher priority to Africa by transferring USCENTCOM and USPACOM's African Areas of Responsibility to USEUCOM and establishing a sub-unified command for Africa under USEUCOM. Such a dedicated sub-unified command will allow more effective command structure to proactively shape the security environment in Africa and more effectively handle any threats to U.S. national interests in the region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 18, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA425916
Entities
People
- Eugene Yim
Organizations
- Naval War College