Compass Points - Trouble in Africa
Russia and China reach out.
Compass Points - Trouble in Africa
Russia and China reach out.
August 9, 2023
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Compass Points has been reviewing the US Department of Defense Combatant Commands. The question for each CoComm -- particularly for the regional CoComms -- is what is more useful for that CoComm, more Marines on defense on islands in the Pacific or more Marines instantly available as a flexible, capable, combined arms, amphibious offense force?
Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, Africa Command is responsible for all U.S. military operations and activities to protect and advance U.S. national interests in Africa.
Africa Command is commanded by Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley. There are many challenges for General Langley and his staff. For example, the recent coup in Niger -- its outcome still unclear -- is the ninth coup or attempted coup in Africa in hardly more than 36 months.
Reporter Bate Felix, writing for Reuters, reviews the recent successful coups:
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BURKINA FASO
Burkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore in January 2022, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants.
MALI
A group of Malian colonels led by Assimi Goita ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. The coup followed anti-government protests over deteriorating security, contested legislative elections and allegations of corruption.
CHAD
Chad's army took power in April 2021 after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north.
GUINEA
Special forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Conde in September 2021. A year earlier, Conde had changed the constitution to circumvent limits that would have prevented him from standing for a third term, triggering widespread rioting.
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Additionally, recent fighting in Sudan caused Americans to be evacuated. For Sudan, General Langley was not able to call on a Marine Expeditionary Unit to help with the evacuation because there was no MEU on patrol nearby.
Another foe, Russia, is using the turmoil in Africa to advance its influence in Africa both directly and by using para-military organizations like the Wagner Group.
Author Joseph Siegle, in his article, "Intervening to Undermine Democracy in Africa: Russia’s Playbook for Influence" written for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies says,
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Russia has systematically sought to undercut democracy in Africa, both to normalize authoritarianism as well as to create an entry point for Russian influence.
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China has built its own influence in Africa primary through its Belt and Road Initiative to which 40 African nations belong.
To bolster US influence on the continent, US Africa Command holds several major exercises every year including, Flintlock, Africa Endeavor, and Cutlass Express:
As detailed by US Africa Command, www.africom.mil:
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Flintlock is an annual exercise to foster regional cooperation to enable our African partners to stabilize North and West Africa.
Africa Endeavor is designed to enhance collaboration between African, U.S. and other stakeholders on communications interoperability, doctrinal guidance, and capacity-building activities.
Cutlass Express is one of three express-series exercises, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, focused on maritime domain awareness and law enforcement while promoting national and regional maritime security.
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There are ongoing challenges for the US in Africa. As he surveys a continent of threats and troubles, what is more useful for General Langley and for Africa Command? More Marines on defense on islands in the Pacific or more Marines instantly available as a flexible, capable, combined arms, amphibious offense force? To ask the question is to answer it.
Compass Points salutes all the US military and civilians in Africa Command working toward a continent that is safe, peaceful, and free.
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Reuters (reuters.com) 07/27/2023
Niger coup: List of recent military takeovers in West and Central Africa
By Bate Felix
Bate Felix is the Bureau Chief for the West and Central Africa, managing news operations in the bureau covering the 23 countries in the region from Cape Verde to the Democratic Republic of Congo, except Nigeria.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/recent-coups-west-central-africa-2023-07-26/
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Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Russia in Africa
https://africacenter.org/in-focus/russia-in-africa/
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Reuters (reuters.com) 11/22/21
Insight: African nations mend and make do as China tightens Belt and Road
By Duncan Miriri
It is at this point that the U.S. Marines 1940 edition of the Small Wars Manual is and always has been far more relevant than FMFM 1 and MCDP 1-1. General Walt was right in his concept of Operation County Fair. Make it safe for the population to live in freedom where they were born, now live and want to prosper with an overwhelming Marine presence reinforced by Marine rapid response maneuver forces and Marine fire support coordination of Marine air, Marine artillery and naval gunfire to interdict massed enemy forces. A vapid bibliography complied by a journalist, FMFM 1 and MCDP 1-1 have only lent support to the Pentagon argument that the Corps is a redundant land army. The lesson of Ukraine is that resolute citizens tied by birth to the land and resilient and resourceful ground pounders win the battle.