A Tribal Engagement Strategic Approach in Africa

Abstract

The National Security Strategy, the Defense Strategic Guidance, the National Military Strategy, and USAFRICOM's strategic approach continues to place importance toward instability in Africa. Should USAFRICOM attempt a Tribal Engagement Strategic Approach (TESA) to increase stability within its AOR? This thesis examines the events of the past 10-20 years in Liberia and applies design methodology to answer the research question. USAFRICOM and its whole of government can increase stability by deploying Tribal Engagement Teams (TETs) to increase confidence between local governments and tribes in African communities where circumstances call for a TESA. The result of this research provide an approach to protect tribal interests and work through issues of corruption, reduce local tensions, and improve local governance. Moreover, TETs executing a tribal engagement strategy should increase stability through community engagement, local defense advisory, and encourage political integration with the central and local governments as well as tribal groups. The thesis recommends four planning considerations for prospective tribal engagement strategies to assist decision makers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 13, 2014
Accession Number
ADA611669

Entities

People

  • Paul A. Escobar

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Employment
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Geography
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Mobile Phones
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States Africa Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.