On 3/19/2010 4:01:45 PM General William E. Ward, Commander of U.S. Africa Command wrote

Hello Teammates,

On March 9 and 10, I completed my annual responsibility to provide testimony to the United States Congress on the posture of the United States Africa Command. The public hearings that I participated in and the written statements that I submitted for the record provided me the opportunity to present our approach to sustained security engagement in Africa and our accomplishments over the past year. The positive reception received at these hearings shows that our programs and activities are recognized as doing important work in Africa for our nation and in support of the African people.

The challenges our Command faces due to the complex environment in Africa were acknowledged repeatedly by several members of Congress. Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee, described these challenges as "staggering".

Representative Ike Skelton, Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee, touched upon the rise of violent extremism in Africa "from Al Qaeda in East Africa to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and al-Shabaab in Somalia."

Naturally, the less often asked question of where we are going to relocate our headquarters came up. In fact, Senator John McCain asked why our headquarters was not in Africa. I responded with, "The work of the Command is in its programs, its activities, its exercises, the things that we do across the continent to help the nations of Africa increase their capacity. The headquarters location, quite candidly, doesn't affect the work, where we plan those activities, where we look to resource those activities." This answer was accepted by all.

A Congressional hearing naturally focuses on trying to identify problems and challenges. But one idea I was able to emphasize is how I am truly impressed that the people of Africa every day are taking meaningful steps to address their challenges.

At one point a lawmaker asked me about Somalia and pointed out that I had been deployed there 17 years ago, and that the country remains in turmoil. What has changed in the past 17 years, I replied, is that now "there's a continent-wide organization [the African Union] that has said that, we will do our best to help bring this Transitional Federal Government into a place where it can begin to exert some control over that vast territory. The problem with Somalia is the lack of a government. It's the lack of effective governance. But there are things being done to address that. It is truly an international effort. It requires the support of the global community."

What we're doing with regard to Somalia illustrated the approach of U.S. Africa Command. As I explained to Congress, Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is being supported by the African Union's Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), as well as the United States and members of the international community. I stated in my testimony that this government is "our best potential for helping to turn around some of the instability and lack of governance" in Somalia. We look to participate with those who also support the TFG through their contributions to the AMISOM mission in ways that add stability to that part of the continent.

I include this discussion on Somalia because comments by senior U.S. government officials have led to speculation and assumption in the media that our verbal endorsement also means active U.S. military operations inside Somalia, to include air support and putting Special Operations Forces on the ground to support combat operations by AMISOM and the TFG. Their assumption was incorrect and led to speculative articles that do not accurately portray our role.

Let me just reiterate points that already have been made by our diplomats: The United States -- and this includes U.S. Africa Command -- does not plan, does not direct, and does not coordinate the military operations of Somalia's TFG forces. We have not and will not be providing direct support for any potential military offensives. We are not providing military advisors for the TFG. Lasting security in Somalia will best be achieved by the Somali people working closely with their African neighbors -- outsiders cannot impose solutions.

The Congressional hearings were, in my opinion, successful. I left with the sense that the Congress embraces and supports our mission and vision and that the elected representatives of the American people are noticing more and more that our engagement in Africa is meaningful and appreciated.

Finally, I want to thank the AFRICOM staff and all those other teammates who dedicated long hours and considerable energy in preparing the 2010 Annual Posture Statement. Truly a team effort.

On 4/9/2010 10:11:42 AM Jim in USA wrote
Edidiong, I'm afraid that youre delusional. Even your grandfather would not have been alive before there was colonization of continent, so I don't know how that becomes part of your body of knowledge in an historical analysis. There are plenty of books written about the African continent that span pre through post colonization and though many state that problems have been created that are unique to the process borders, languages etc, there is no basis to believe that corruption, war or any other negative attribute was introduced by western influence. Just as there were wars in the world before Europe became a power, there were wars in Africa before any of the European nations existed. Also, you mischaracterize the responsibilities of the COCOMs relative to their geo-alignment. The COCOMs are not in control of their respective landmasses but are responsible to ensure that US military activities in their theater are aligned with US Government policy and to be prepared to offer emergency assistance when called upon to do so.
As for human trafficking, that practice, sadly, goes back thousands of years and spans all inhabited continents and continues today. It existed before Europe or the USA and as long as there are unscrupulous people that will seek profit by any means there will be a need to police these activities just as we need to police drug trafficking and theft.
I don't know why you keep bringing up Germany and Nazi's as it isn't germane the to discussion of Africa. The last point that you raise about the US dealing with its race issues is interesting, true and in fact is happening on a daily basis. I spent a few moments thinking about different countries across the world and was able to think of at least 1 minority segment either ethnic or religious for each that claims to be marginalized or is seeking autonomy outright, so I do not think that waiting for a 100 consensus on our racial issues before making national policy decisions is going to work. The final home of the Africa Command HQ needs to take into account many factors, economic, travel time, political sensitivities and so forth and should not be confused or oversimplified as being about race. Again, which COCOM's have their HQ's located outside the US? EUCOM and Africa Command. Africa is a continent, not a country. It is made up of over 50 countries, thousands of different ethnic and linguistic divisions and is bigger than Europe, the US and China combined. Do not presume that your opinion is the stance of a whole continent.

On 4/8/2010 2:16:57 PM Fano in Madagascar wrote
The future is more important than past.
The future is not I Shall Love All Mankind, but Love for All mankind

On 4/8/2010 2:16:57 PM Fano in Madagascar wrote
The future is more important than past.
The future is not I Shall Love All Mankind ,but Love for Allmankind

On 4/8/2010 12:26:03 PM Randy in Stuttgart wrote
Edidiong, I am very willing to accept the truth, just not what you think your version of the truth is. Slavery existed in Africa before the arrival of Europeans — as did a slave trade that exported millions of sub-Saharan Africans to North Africa. Africa is one of the only places in the world where it still exists. I am sure your grandfather, and his granfather were wise men, but Africa has had problems before the European arrival and colonialization, and long after the African countries have thrown off their colonial yoke.

The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass killing of hundreds of thousands of Rwanda's Tutsis and Hutu political moderates by the Hutu dominated government under the Hutu Power ideology, NOT European domination. In 100 days, from the assassination of Juvnal Habyarimana on April 6 through mid-July, at least 800,000 people were killed. I realize this is one of the most extreme cases, but there are countless other examples.

Your intitial statement was about AFRICOM not being on the Africa continent, and your reason was "This is about racism, Africans are black and you hate them". Now you say "Corruption is a European tendency and Deal with the issues of race in the united states". That is not germane to the congressional testimony, or your ever changing arguement.

On 4/7/2010 5:20:12 PM Edidiong in Bahrain wrote
RANDY, It is apparent you are not willing to accept the truth. You are just a tool.I come to conclusions and decisions after analysing history experiences and the facts before me.
Africa was placed under EUCOM to consolidate European control of Africa,the colonisation,human trafficking,looting of natural resources and the destruction of African society.
The same is being done in the middle east.Isreal, Palestinians and Iran. GEORGE BUSH invading IRAQ.
My grand father told me that his grandfather said African society existed in peace until Europeans stated coming there.Corruption is a European tendency.
I do not blame others for my problems.Problem solving is about studying the root causes of the problem and changing the situation.
Deal with the issues of race in the united states.