Research & Background
The documents below highlight issues related to security in Africa, as well as background papers relating to U.S. Africa Command.

Some of the below documents may be outdated or contain outdated information. They are posted for research purposes and to promote public understanding.

Posting of these documents does not imply official endorsement by U.S. Africa Command or the Department of Defense.

  U.S. Africa Command 2011 Posture Statement (.5MB pdf) By General Carter F. Ham, April 2011 U.S. Africa Command's formal report to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Armed Services Committees

  U.S. Africa Command 2010 Posture Statement (8MB pdf) By General William E. Ward, March 2010 U.S. Africa Command's formal written report to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Armed Services Committees

  U.S. Africa Command 2009 Posture Statement (7 MB pdf) By General William E. Ward, March 2009 U.S. Africa Command's formal written report to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Armed Services Committees

  U.S. Africa Command 2008 Posture Statement By General William E. Ward, March 2008 U.S. Africa Command's formal written report to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Armed Services Committees

  Why AFRICOM? (2007) By Theresa Whelan, August 2007 The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa explained the rationale for creating AFRICOM; her paper appeared in several academic journals

  Horizon of Hope NDU(2007) By William E. Ward, Spring 2007 This National Defense University essay discusses "Considerations for Long-term Stability in Post-conflict Situations

  Sub-Saharan Africa and the Unified Command Plan JFQ (2001) By John E. Campbell, Autumn 2001 This Joint Forces Quarterly essay recommended against creating an AFRICOM-like structure, instead advocating a sub-regional headquarters under EUCOM

  A CINC for Sub-Saharan Africa? Rethinking the Unified Command Plan Parameters (2000) By Richard G. Catoire, November 2000 This U.S. Army War College essay advocated creating an AFRICOM-like organization

  UNCHARTED PATHS, UNCERTAIN VISION: U.S. MILITARY INVOLVEMENTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD WAR (1998) By Dan Henk, March 1998 This U.S. Air Force Academy study recommended a unified command for Africa; includes overview U.S. military activities in Africa in the 1990s.

  MILITARY MEDICAL OPERATIONS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: THE DoD "POINT OF THE SPEAR" By C. William Fox, Jr., June 1997 Recommending an AFRICOM-like organization, this paper was a "Distinguished Essay" in the 1997 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Strategy Essay Competition

  U.S. Africa Command: The First Three Years ... (March 2011) 8MB pdf By U.S. Africa Command Office of Public Affairs, March 2011 A photography book on the creation of the U.S. Africa Command. Includes historical essays and current structure.
Current Documents


Fact Sheets


  Also Available in PDF Format
Africa Resources Links
U.S. government programs or international organizations in Africa.

Links do not imply official endorsement of content by U.S. Africa Command

Reports and Briefings

Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress) · Reports on Africa as released by the Foreign Press Center

Country Background Notes · Compiled by the U.S. Dept of State

Defense Security Cooperation Agency Fact Book · Data on Foreign Military Sales Agreements and Deliveries since 1950

Foreign Military Training and DoD Engagement Activities of Interest · Annual reports by the U.S. Department of State

Foreign Press Center Briefings on Africa

Library of Congress · Africa and Middle East Collections

International Organizations and Groups

African Union

The United Nations News Center

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

The UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA)

More Information Resources

U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs in Sub-Saharan Africa

USAID Famine Early Warning Systems Network

Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS)

African Growth and Opportunity Act

Centers for Disease Control - Global Health

Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa

Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Federal Bureau of Investigation -- Legal Attaché Offices in Africa

International Trade Administration

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)

North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial

USA.Gov Defense and International Relations links

U.S. Trade Agreements

World Factbook

News Sources

AllAfrica: Arms and Armies

AllAfrica: Conflict, Peace, and Security

American Forces Press Service

Defense Writers Group archive

Pentagon press briefings (Oct 1994 to present)

Reuters Alertnet Humanitarian News for Africa

Stars and Stripes
Downloadable print edition

Voice of America Africa News

AFRICOM History, Background
and Fact Sheets
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AFRICOM Dialogue

Recent Posts by AFRICOM Staff

From Yasmin Rosa, AFRICOM EEO Manager
on 4/24/2012 2:56:01 PM
"On Wednesday, 18 April 2012, the United States Africa Command hosted Holocaust Days of Remembrance observance. Mr. Edwin Baer, Deputy Chief, DIA Forward Element, AFRICOM J2, keynote..."
(Read Full Entry)

From Staff Sergeant Ulufemi Owolabi, U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs
on 3/28/2012 2:38:37 PM
"Staff Sergeant Olufemi Owolabi, U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs, is reporting this week from Benin. Below is an excerpt from his recent blog: When we entered the gate..."
(Read Full Entry)

From Yasmin Rosa, EEO Manager, U.S. Africa Command
on 2/28/2012 1:18:31 PM
"Brigadier General Arnold N. Gordon-Bray, Deputy Director of Operations/J3 celebrated Black History month by hosting a facilitated overview of the documentary film by Frank Harris,..."
(Read Full Entry)

Recent Posts by Internet Public

Michael in Virginia wrote
on 5/14/2012 9:06:33 PM
"What about factory treated permethrin clothing? No intricacies involved - you just wear it!..."
(Read Full Entry)

Charles in Jinja, Uganda wrote
on 5/14/2012 1:57:29 PM
"Great Job you are doing to ensure peace in the continent of Africa and the world in general. GOD be with you all!..."
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Jacquie in Spring Hill, Florida wrote
on 4/13/2012 1:10:37 PM
"My prayers are with the crew and their families...."
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Margaret in Garland, Tx wrote
on 4/12/2012 4:49:15 PM
"My prayers go out to those families of those killed and injured. I know the folks at home are worried. I work for a family who has a new daddy over there in Morocco. I am sending W..."
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DAVID in EDWARDS AFB wrote
on 4/12/2012 12:14:55 PM
"Our prayers go out to the crew and family members involved in the accident. Semper Fi, Maj David Henderson ..."
(Read Full Entry)