AFRICOM's General Carter Ham on African Security .
Security in Africa continues to be influenced by external actors, and countering security threats in east and northwest Africa is the top concern for U.S. Africa Command, General Carter F. Ham told members of the House Armed Services Committee during annual testimony February 29, 2012, in Washington, D.C.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/AFRICOM-s-Gener...
"Countering the threats posed by al-Qa'ida affiliates in east and northwest Africa remains my number one priority," he said.
But General Ham also noted that U.S. AFRICOM would continue its strategy of a "small footprint" in Africa and encourage African partners to continue their leadership in stabilizing the region.
Strengthening the defense capabilities of partner nations through a variety of operations, exercises and security cooperation activities to better enable partners to provide for their own security "remains an integral part of what we do," Ham said.
"I believe in the long run it is Africans who are best able to address African security challenges," he said.
General Carter Ham and Admiral James G. Stavridis, commander of U.S. European Command, testified for two hours as part of the Armed Services Committee's annual budget hearings. Committee members peppered Ham with questions on everything from transitioning governments to the best location for AFRICOM headquarters.
Ham pointed out that key security challenges include the activities of al-Qa'ida and its affiliates in East Africa, the Maghreb and the Sahel. Of particular concern, according to Ham, is the potential for support and strengthening of ties between al-Shabaab, al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb, and Boko Haram with al-Qai'da senior leadership.
Somalia, where al-Shabaab controls parts of the country, is an area of international focus, Ham told the committee.
He said the February 23 London Conference on Somalia, a gathering of 55 world leaders, was a significant step because it highlighted the question of how the international community will help Somalia as it transitions to a new government. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) maintains thousands of African troops in Somalia to help provide security for Somalia's Transitional Federal Government.
Ham testified that the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense have helped Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti and Kenya build capable forces to operate inside Somalia as part of the AMISOM force.
But General Ham also noted that U.S. AFRICOM would continue its strategy of a "small footprint" in Africa and encourage African partners to continue their leadership in stabilizing the region.
Strengthening the defense capabilities of partner nations through a variety of operations, exercises and security cooperation activities to better enable partners to provide for their own security "remains an integral part of what we do," Ham said.
"I believe in the long run it is Africans who are best able to address African security challenges," he said.
General Carter Ham and Admiral James G. Stavridis, commander of U.S. European Command, testified for two hours as part of the Armed Services Committee's annual budget hearings. Committee members peppered Ham with questions on everything from transitioning governments to the best location for AFRICOM headquarters.
Ham pointed out that key security challenges include the activities of al-Qa'ida and its affiliates in East Africa, the Maghreb and the Sahel. Of particular concern, according to Ham, is the potential for support and strengthening of ties between al-Shabaab, al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb, and Boko Haram with al-Qai'da senior leadership.
Somalia, where al-Shabaab controls parts of the country, is an area of international focus, Ham told the committee.
He said the February 23 London Conference on Somalia, a gathering of 55 world leaders, was a significant step because it highlighted the question of how the international community will help Somalia as it transitions to a new government. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) maintains thousands of African troops in Somalia to help provide security for Somalia's Transitional Federal Government.
Ham testified that the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense have helped Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti and Kenya build capable forces to operate inside Somalia as part of the AMISOM force.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/AFRICOM-s-Gener...