AFRICOM offers no benefit to Africa or its people. It is simply the guise through which the U.S. can collaborate with puppet African leaders to intervene and meddle in African affairs, and in neo-colonial fashion, consolidate the control of African resources.
Had AFRICOM not been successfully resisted by the people of Africa, its headquarters would be on the African continent rather than in Germany. Why would African countries provide a safe haven for the headquarters of a U.S. command structure that launches attacks on African countries?
The mobilization of African people and peoples' organizations around the world is needed to expel AFRICOM and foreign military attacks from the continent. African resistance must lead us to higher levels of organization. It is only through the organization of African people that we can defend the continent against foreign intervention and against corrupt and puppet leaders.
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The AFRICOM Watch Bulletin will now include a relatively short interview with each edition. The first interview is with Margaret Kimberley, Editor and Senior Columnist of Black Agenda Report, Coordinating Committee member of the Black Alliance for Peace, Co-Coordinator of BAP’s Africa Team, and United National Antiwar Coalition Administrative Committee member. We asked her to answer a few questions about AFRICOM and the campaign to get the U.S. out of Africa.
Tunde: What is AFRICOM?
Margaret: AFRICOM is the U.S. Africa Command. It is one of 7 unified combatant commands under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Defense Department. The U.S. military has divided the world up into 7 regions covering North America (NORTHCOM), South America (SOUTHCOM), Europe (EUCOM), Middle East and Egypt (CENTCOM), Asia and Pacific (PACOM), Space Command (SPACECOM), and Africa (AFRICOM).
The United States is unique in claiming areas of responsibility in the rest of the world. AFRICOM was formed in late 2008 during the George W. Bush administration. Its responsibilities and activities increased significantly during the Barack Obama administration. Now every African nation except Egypt, participated in AFRICOM with personnel and facilities on their soil and most importantly integration of their military commands with those of the U.S.
Tunde: Why should people in the U.S. care about AFRICOM?
Margaret: AFRICOM and the entire command structure allow the U.S. to attempt to keep as much of the world as possible under its hegemony. It increases the military budget, which now comprises 60% of all discretionary spending and deprives people in this country of the public funds that would improve the quality of their lives. AFRICOM also reduces democracy and the sovereignty of African people on the continent and deprives them of the right to direct their governments as they see fit.
Tunde: Tell me about the U.S. Out of Africa! Shut down AFRICOM campaign.
Margaret: The U.S. Out of Africa/Shut Down AFRICOM campaign is a subset of the overarching BAP Campaign "No Compromise, No Retreat: Defeat the War Against African/Black People in the U.S. and Abroad." The U.S. Out of Africa/Shut Down AFRICOM campaign is an effort of political education, organizing, and advocacy. The campaign petition is in six different languages and calls on the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus to hold hearings on AFRICOM. BAP is a founding member of a larger group, Coalition Against U.S. Foreign Military Bases, which seeks to close all of the 800 U.S./NATO bases and military facilities around the world. Campaign tools include a teach-in guide, fact sheet and BAP articles.
Tunde: How can people get involved?
Margaret: The U.S. Out of Africa Network is the organizing arm of the campaign. USOAN provides regular updates on the campaign's activities and news from the continent with the AFRICOM Watch Bulletin. Those interested can sign up online to join the USOAN.
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Pan-African Activist Sunday School | Resisting Dictatorship in Uganda
Ugandan activists discuss the history that led to the Museveni dictatorship, the recent election crisis, the current resistance movement, and how to support.
February 7, 2021 by Pan-African Activist Solidarity Network
US troop withdrawal from Germany ‘put on freeze’
All plans related to the Trump administration’s troop withdrawal from Germany have been put on on hold until new Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin will review the move
February 4, 2021 by Alexandra Brzozowski
Israel’s involvement in Africa is a means for reshaping the narrative around the situation in Palestine and countering criticism of Israel as a settler-colonial, discriminatory state.
February 2, 2021 by Africa is a Country
Dispatches from the Congo: When the US came calling
Kambale Musavuli from the Centre for Research on the Congo talks about the recent visit of two AFRICOM officials to the DRC and the agenda presented by the delegation.
January 31, 2021 by Peoples Dispatch
The Changing Same: Biden and the False Promise of a “Return to Normalcy”
January 29, 2021 by Kali Akuno
A crucial analysis that touches on AFRICOM, the scramble for Africa, and U.S. imperialism more broadly .
The US is using the war in Ethiopia to pursue its geo-strategic goals in the Horn of Africa
The US involvement in the war in Ethiopia is designed to harm the people of that country and must be opposed. Foreign intervention in Ethiopia must stop.
January 19, 2021 by Stop Foreign Intervention in Africa
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Photo credit: Senior Airman Hannah Strobel