In response to our expanding partnerships and interests in Africa, the U.S. established U.S. Africa Command in 2007. Since then U.S. Africa Command has worked with African partners for a secure, stable and prosperous Africa.

The creation of U.S. Africa Command has advanced this vision through a whole-of-government, partner-centric lens by building partner capacity, disrupting violent extremists, and responding to crises. Through consistent engagement, we strengthen our partnerships and assure our allies. Only together can we realize security goals vital for global interests and free trade.

Allies and partners are critical in realizing our shared vision while enabling contingency operations, maintaining superiority over competitors, monitoring and disrupting violent extremist organizations, and protecting U.S. interests.

Establishment of U.S. Africa Command 

On Feb. 6, 2007, then-U.S. President George W. Bush directed the creation of U.S. Africa Command. The decision was the culmination of several years of deliberation within the Department of Defense acknowledging the growing strategic importance of Africa. The new command would ensure DoD harmonized its efforts in Africa with those of U.S. Department of State as well as other U.S. government agencies. 

U.S. Africa Command assumed responsibility for U.S. military activities in areas that had been part of three geographical commands previously, and now included all of Africa except Egypt. U.S. Africa Command was chartered to conduct sustained security engagements to promote a stable and secure political environment in Africa in support of U.S. foreign policy.

Following the decision by Bush to establish a command to oversee all U.S. military activities in Africa, U.S. Africa Command began to organize as a sub-unified command of U.S. European Command. The reduction of U.S. military forces stationed in Europe made space available for a headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. U.S. European, Central and Pacific Commands (which previously held this responsibility for different parts of the continent) transferred their missions to U.S. Africa Command.