Building Security and Partnership through African Regional Organizations

In 2002, the African Union (AU) was created with the aim of strengthening integration among member States and the voice of the African continent in global affairs. The African heads of state recognized the Organization of African Unity (OAU) framework was no longer adequate to meet the needs for greater continental policy coordination, stronger economic growth, and growing security challenges. By 2007, the United States responded with the creation of US Africa Command to be the Department of Defense (DOD) focal point for the coordination and execution of civil-military operations. This in itself is not sufficient to engage in the African theater. An additional effort is needed to mitigate current US Theater Security Cooperation limitations, coordination mechanisms and cultural mindset. It is necessary to improve the access to ground truth information in Africa, to overcome roadblocks in implementing a holistic African strategy, and best tackle its diverse and complex challenges. The US military must increase its application of soft power through renewed partnerships within the African Union and its Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to build capacity and create African solutions to African problems. The US military requires increased multilateral diplomacy to maximize common US and African strategic interests, build partnerships within Africa's diverse regions, and integrate itself as a vital partner in Africa's 2050 vision.