21st Century Africa as an 'Arc of (In)Stability': U.S. And African Economic, Security, and Development Policies Advanced Through U.S. Africa Command Initiatives

Abstract

This Article will survey the significant legal, political, and operational challenges that US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has already encountered in its relatively short existence, the challenges which lie ahead for AFRICOM, and why AFRICOM will need to further adapt its cooperation with African allies and quantify 'value-added' capabilities if it is to successfully provide and promote allied capabilities. Part 1 will examine Africa as an 'arc of instability,' while Part 2 will describe how U.S. centralized diplomatic and political strategy led to the creation of AFRICOM and the advancement of both U.S. and African economic, security, and development policies. The impact of the 'resourcing-to-requirements' differential (or the disparity in the resources AFRICOM has versus what it must do with them) is discussed in Part 3. The uncertainty created by this U.S. action, as well as its implications on future humanitarian efforts in the region is explained in Part 4, with further discussion on how this perceived uncertainty will affect African and non- African nations’ reactions to AFRICOM in Part 5. Finally, what African nations will do about and with AFRICOM now and in the future is described in Part 6. This Article, therefore, addresses the issues and obstacles AFRICOM is likely to encounter, and attempts to discover the potential solutions offered by law and policy that would aid the organization in successfully accomplishing its stated missions, and advancing an 'arc of stability' in Africa.

Keywords: Africa, U.S. Africa Command, USAFRICOM, AFRICOM, National Security, economics, politics, military, counterterrorism, counterdrug, diplomacy, military affairs, hunanitarian aid, combined, joint, interagency

JEL Classification: H56