Africom’s role in the SADC’s security landscape

NAVIGATING TENSIONS

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THE US Africa Command (Africom) — the combatant command responsible for carrying out the US Department of Defence’s military operations, exercises, and security cooperation in Africa — could sow divisions within the southern African region.

The leadership of the Africom, including the Deputy Commander Lieutenant General John Brennan and Ambassador Robert Scott, made what seemed to be successful visits to Angola and Namibia at the end of July.

In both countries, the parties discussed mutual security interests, including promoting stability in southern Africa, tackling wildlife and timber trafficking, drug cartels and terrorism, which are a threat to regional peace and stability. The visits followed the Obangame Joint Military Exercise conducted in Cape Verde in May, in which both Namibia and Angola took part alongside 22 other African countries and the US.

In Angola, it coincided with the Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) where Angolan and US troops were conducting live fire exercises aimed at improving combat readiness and the interoperability of allied forces.

With the US-funded Lobito Corridor, a railway track which will connect Angola’s Lobito port to more inland countries like Zambia and the DRC, Angola is central to US economic interests in southern Africa. The Africom leaders emphasised that they seek to work with African countries in a manner that enhances their sovereignty and autonomy rather than their dependency.