United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM)

The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs has been designated as the State Department's lead for establishing the Department of Defense's United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) -- the sixth U.S. combatant command. PM/PPA is the Bureau's lead for this effort. In that capacity, PPA, in partnership with representatives from the Bureau of African Affairs, represents the Department of State in interagency fora -- especially with the Department of Defense, in Congressional hearings and briefings, in international settings, and in public diplomacy initiatives associated with the development of USAFRICOM. Other key PPA tasks include leading efforts to develop consensus positions for the Department's senior leadership, identifying and processing issues requiring decisions by the Department's policy makers, and ensuring all Department bureaus and offices are routinely kept informed on USAFRICOM topics of cogent interest.