Text Fwd: AFRICOM: Military Partnerships With 35 Of 53 African Nations

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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53542
U.S. Department of Defense
American Forces Press Service
March 18, 2009

Africom Commander Describes Conditions for U.S. Involvement
By John J. Kruzel

-Ward cited three areas of current conflict on the continent, including border
disputes between Eritrea and Djibouti on the Horn of Africa and in North Africa
at the Western Sahara, and clashing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

-[T]he United States was able to lend assistance to Uganda, Rwanda, Congo and to
a lesser degree, and the Central African Republic.

-The general estimated the United States has partnerships with 35 of Africa’s
53 nations, representing U.S. relationships that span the continent.


WASHINGTON – U.S. Africa Command will intervene in conflicts on the
continent only after warring countries have shown a political will to reconcile,
the Africom commander told a congressional panel today.
....
Ward cited three areas of current conflict on the continent, including border
disputes between Eritrea and Djibouti on the Horn of Africa and in North Africa
at the Western Sahara, and clashing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In determining the Africom focus in what Ward characterized as “enduring
conflicts,” he said political agreement is a prerequisite for U.S.
involvement. If American policy makers then determine Africom can play a role,
it will proceed in its mission.

Using the example of Central Africa, where a lack of interoperability and
information sharing was exacerbating conflicts, the United States was able to
lend assistance to Uganda, Rwanda, Congo and to a lesser degree, and the Central
African Republic.

“We had the ability to … help in information sharing, to help with equipment
interoperability, providing sometimes needed logistics support and enhancements,
to cause those governments to be able to have a better sense of what goes on
inside their borders against insurgencies or the rebel factions, and then be
able to work in some degree of commonality to address them,” he said.
....
The general estimated the United States has partnerships with 35 of Africa’s
53 nations, representing U.S. relationships that span the continent.

“We work with them [on] counter-terror programs, programs to help in their
transformation of their militaries and also in just basic logistic support as
they participate in U.N.- or [African Union]-sponsored peacekeeping
operations,” he told the congressional members.

Ward’s committee appearance marked his second consecutive day testifying on
Capitol Hill about the role of Africom, which became active last October.
....
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