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U.S. Begins Flying Rwandan Peacekeeping Equipment to Darfur

Jan 14, 2009 · U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs

The U.S. Air Force has begun airlifting Rwandan peacekeeping equipment and supplies from Kigali to the Darfur Region of Sudan as part of the United Nations-Africa Union peacekeeping mission. The first mission was completed today by the "Spirit of The Golden Gate," a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft... (Full Story)

Africa Endeavor 2009: Planning Begins for 25-Nation Communications Exercise

Jan 14, 2009 · U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs

Delegates from 25 nations gathered January 13, 2009, to begin initial planning of Exercise Africa Endeavor 2009, the largest multinational communication exercise on the continent. Africa Endeavor is an African Union (AU) and U.S. European Command initiative that is now led by U.S. Africa Command.... (Full Story)

U.S. Regional Commands and Components Plan for Joint Task Force Headquarters

Jan 13, 2009 · U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs

A planning committee of personnel from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), its components, and other regional commands joined together for a three-day conference at the U.S.AFRICOM headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, January 13-15, 2009, to plan for the establishment of a Joint Task Force Headquarters (JTFHQ)... (Full Story)

POLICY STATEMENT: U.S. Welcomes ECOWAS Suspension of Guinea

Jan 12, 2009 · Office of the Spokesman, U.S. Department of State

(Editor's note: This information is not directly related to U.S. Africa Command but is provided to help increase awareness of U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy in Africa.) The following is a press statement released by the Department of State on January 12, 2009: The United States welcomes... (Full Story)

POLICY STATEMENT: Inaugural Meeting of the Contact Group on Somali Piracy

Jan 12, 2009 · Office of the Spokesman, U.S. Department of State

(Editor's note: U.S. Africa Command currently is not leading the U.S. military's role in counter-piracy off the Somali coast. This information is provided to help increase awareness of overall U.S. foreign policy in the region.) The following is a press statement released by the Department... (Full Story)

The Great Rift Valley: Restoring Peace and Hope

Jan 12, 2009 · CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

The trigger was the outcome of an election. The original cause of the violence runs deeper. In January 2008, international news showed images of bloodshed, violence and hordes of people being forced to flee their homes in fear of their lives. From Nairobi to the Great Rift Valley in western Kenya,... (Full Story)

U.S. Africa Command General Hails USAID-Military Links

Jan 12, 2009 · Frontlines (Published by USAID)

In the following question and answer piece featured in the December-January 2009 edition of USAID's monthly publication "Frontlines," General William E. Ward, commander of U.S. Africa Command, answers questions on U.S. Africa Command's military-to-military programs and its role in... (Full Story)

Showing the most recent press releases.

For the past month's articles, released Sunday, December 14, 2008 through Wednesday, January 14, 2009, see the Articles page.

For ALL press releases, see the U.S. AFRICOM News Archives

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KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Rwanda - Load masters from Travis Air Force Base, California, secure a DAF vehicle and water holding tanks onboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 military cargo aircraft, January 14, 2009. This was the first load of five airlifts to transport Rwandan peacekeeping equipment from Kigali, Rwanda, to Al Fashir, in the Darfur region of Sudan, in support of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). (Photo by Staff Sergeant Samuel Bendet, U.S. Africa Command)

KIGALI, Rwanda - Army 1st Lieutenant Charles Jones, HQ Support Company, SETAF, explains scaling and labeling procedures to soldiers from the Rwanda Defense Forces January 13, 2009. Jones is in Rwanda to conduct pre-deployment training as part of the Africa Deployment Assistance Partnership Team (ADAPT) program. ADAPT is designed to help African militaries deploy and support forces that are participating in United Nations or Africa Union peacekeeping operations. Rwanda currently has more than 3,200 troops deployed to Sudan as part of UN and AU peacekeeping missions. (Photo by Staff Sergeant Samuel Bendet, US Africa Command)

GAKO, Rwanda - A Captain in the Rwanda Defense Forces gives an overview of the United Nations, Africa Union Mission in Darfur to peacekeeper trainees at the Rwandan Military Academy in Gako, Rwanda, January 12, 2009. This training is taught by Rwandan instructors as part of the Africa Contingency Operations Training Assistance (ACOTA) program. Rwanda was the first county in Africa to be able to provide this training to its soldiers without U.S. instructors. ACOTA is a joint State Department and Department of Defense program. About 12,000 Rwandan soldiers have been trained under the ACOTA program including the 3,454 Rwandan peacekeepers currently deployed to Sudan. (Photo by Staff Sergeant Samuel Bendet, U.S. Africa Command)

KIGALI, Rwanda - Technical Sergeant Bradley Ferda from the 722nd Expeditionary Airbase Squadron, 17th Air Force, U.S. Africa Command, joins volunteers from the Kigali fire department, and Rwanda Defence Forces soldiers to wash water tanks and other military vehicles in preparation for their deployment to the Darfur region of Sudan as part of the United Nations, Africa Union peacekeeping mission there. The vehicles will be transported by U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes brought from the United States. (Photo by Staff Sergeant Samuel Bendet, U.S. Africa Command)

KIGALI, Rwanda - 1st Lieutenant Charles Jones, Headquarters Support Company, Southern European Task Force (SETAF), and approximately 30 soldiers from the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) weigh water-holding tanks, January 11, 2009, in Kigali, Rwanda. The tanks are part of 75 tons of equipment and military vehicles which will be airlifted to the Darfur region of Sudan in support of African Union and United Nations peacekeepers there. (Photo by Staff Sergeant Samuel Bendet, U.S. Africa Command)

RIFT VALLEY, Kenya - Petty Officer 3rd Class Brett Custer, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), plays with children at one of the schools in Burnt Forest, Kenya. A CJTF-HOA civil affairs team visited the region to rebuild schools which were damaged or destroyed during post-election violence there last year. (U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Cohen)

RIFT VALLEY, Kenya - Students of a school in the Rift Valley region of Kenya attend class, January, 2009, in the remnants of a school building that was burnt down during post-election violence last year. Service members from Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa are working with local residents and Kenyan government officials to rebuild schools that were damaged or destroyed during the height of the violence. (U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Cohen)

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U.S. AFRICOM Activities Fact Sheets

FACT SHEET: United States Africa Command

U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs Office

United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, one of six of the Defense Department's regional military headquarters, was declared a fully unified command on October 1, 2008. As such, Africa Command has administrative responsibility for U.S. military... (Full Fact Sheet)

FACT SHEET: U.S. Africa Command Emblem and Insignia

U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs

Emblem Description: On a light blue oval edged white, two palm fronds Proper crossed at base supporting a red oval-shaped shield coming to a point at the top and bottom, surmounted by a blue shield edged white bearing the... (Full Fact Sheet)

U.S. Africa Command Informational Brochure

U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs

Document is in PDF format (Full Fact Sheet)

FACT SHEET: The United States and Africa - Partnering for Growth and Development

Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Editor's Note: The following fact sheet is provided by the Department of State's Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs. Where appropriate, U.S. Africa Command coordinates military support of these U.S. government policies and initiatives... (Full Fact Sheet)

U.S. Africa Command Website Hosts Interactive Map of Africa

U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs

Serving as a public source of Africa-related information, the U.S. Africa Command website, updated daily, hosts the latest news and updates on command activities and initiatives. The website has recently become more interactive, serving as a forum... (Full Fact Sheet)

For additional U.S. AFRICOM Fact Sheets please see the U.S. AFRICOM Activities page.

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AFRICOM Dialogue

From Gen William "Kip" Ward

Welcome.

As we build U.S. Africa Command, we want to talk to people about what the U.S. military is doing in Africa.
(Read Full Entry)

Recent Posts by AFRICOM Staff

On 1/14/2009 11:08:44 AM
From Natalie Lampert, Elon University
"Editors Note: Natalie Lampert is a sophomore at Elon University, where she is majoring in International Studies with a regional concentration in Africa. She graduated from the International..."
(Read Full Entry)

On 1/7/2009 1:09:36 PM
From Dr. (Col) Schuyler Geller
"As the Command Surgeon and Medical Division Chief for the Operations and Logistics Directorate (OPL), U.S. Africa Command, I am very excited to announce that on January 8 and 9, 2009..."
(Read Full Entry)

On 11/10/2008 7:19:48 PM
From Ambassador Mary C. Yates
"How can we, a military command, contribute to economic growth and stability in Africa? I had a unique opportunity to discuss this question October 8, 2008, while representing U.S...."
(Read Full Entry)

Recent Posts by Internet Public

On 1/14/2009 4:49:14 PM
Maha in Stuttgart, Germany wrote
"Thank you for the comment Major. I am an American Civilian from African descent too. I agree and second your opinion. All involved should school themselves and be prepared to meet ..."
(Read Full Entry)
On 1/14/2009 4:04:15 PM
CH MAJ Ike Eweama in Ft Jackson SC Blogger wrote
"Very well written. As an American Soldier of African descent, I must agree with you. I must agree with you by reiterating that the success of this command must hinge on the command..."
(Read Full Entry)
On 1/14/2009 3:26:57 PM
Chaplain Major Ike Eweama in US Army Ft Jackson SC wrote
"Emily, Chaplain Colwell who is one of the senior Chaplains in the Corp is adequately taken care of spiritually. The United States Army Chaplaincy Corp has a well developed program ..."
(Read Full Entry)
On 1/14/2009 3:04:42 AM
Maha in Stuttgart, Germany wrote
"Great article. You really touched the key point, Cultural Awareness. It's our key to success in AFRICA. Good luck ..."
(Read Full Entry)
On 1/12/2009 7:58:27 PM
Jas in Tripoli, Libya wrote
"It is very nice to bypass yesterday and start a new era of a very good new relationship, for the new genarations, We believe that all conflicts and missunderstands are due lake of ..."
(Read Full Entry)