VZCZCXRO5591
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #4550/01 2742331
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 302327Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL AFRICAN DIPLOMATIC POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS IMMEDIATE 1949
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT IMMEDIATE 5792
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS IMMEDIATE 1040
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 3270
INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 8051
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 0057
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 104550 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR PREL
SUBJECT: U.S. AFRICA COMMAND UPDATE - OCTOBER 1 UNIFIED 
COMMAND STATUS 
 
SUMMARY 
--------- 
 
¶1.  Department requests action addressees to inform their 
host governments of the stand up of U.S. Africa Command 
(AFRICOM) on October 1, and of its primary objectives.  End 
summary. 
 
OBJECTIVES 
---------- 
 
¶2.  Please approach appropriate host-country officials to 
pursue the following objectives: 
 
-- Notify host governments that U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) 
has reached full Unified Command Status as of October 1. 
 
-- Explain that as a fully unified command, AFRICOM will no 
longer be subordinate to U.S. European Command.  However, the 
headquarters will temporarily remain in Stuttgart and a 
permanent headquarters location has yet to be identified. 
 
-- Express appreciation for the military-to-military 
cooperation between the United States and its African 
partners in support of mutual security interests. 
 
-- AFRICOM has responsibility for programs previously 
implemented by U.S. European, Central, and Pacific Commands 
on the African continent, except those in Egypt, which will 
continue to be implemented by U.S. Central Command.  AFRICOM 
will coordinate with CENTCOM and the Government of Egypt on 
Africa-wide security issues. 
 
-- Reinforce that AFRICOM will focus on conflict prevention 
by supporting military professionalization and military 
capacity building to enhance the ability of our African 
partner nations to manage their own security. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶3.  AFRICOM was established as a sub-unified command under 
U.S. European Command on October 1, 2007, in Stuttgart, 
Germany. AFRICOM is under the command of General William 
"Kip" Ward, and transitioned to a fully unified combatant 
command on October 1, 2008. The Command is temporarily 
headquartered in Stuttgart and has not identified a permanent 
headquarters location. To date, Liberia is the sole country 
that has publicly offered to host AFRICOM. 
 
¶4.  The Department is working closely with the Department of 
Defense (DoD) to fully establish AFRICOM as a unified 
combatant command that will have responsibility for 
coordinating and implementing DoD activities in Africa. 
 
¶5.  The Department is committed to ensuring that AFRICOM 
helps strengthen our relationships in Africa in a way that 
does not infringe on the primary role of the Department of 
State in the development and implementation of U.S. foreign 
policy in Africa. 
 
¶6.  The Department supports AFRICOM's mission focus on 
military-to-military security cooperation, an area of 
engagement the Department believes will maximize the 
Command's added value to U.S. Government combined efforts in 
Africa.  We expect AFRICOM to substantially contribute to 
African defense sector reform and to build African partner 
capacities in peacekeeping, coastal and border security, and 
counterterrorism. 
 
¶7.  AFRICOM officials have expressed interest in working on 
the full range of military-to-military programs.  AFRICOM 
will also bring a substantial and welcome capacity to assist 
with humanitarian assistance and development.  The Department 
has made it clear that civilian agencies will maintain the 
lead for USG programs in these areas.  We will ensure 
AFRICOM's activities are coordinated by our Ambassadors and 
are synchronized with the activities and programs of USAID 
and the State Department to avoid duplication and maximize 
effectiveness. 
 
 
STATE 00104550  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶8.  Chiefs of Mission should continue to work closely with 
AFRICOM to ensure that U.S. military activities in Africa 
support USG priorities, for which each COM has primary 
responsibility in his/her country of accreditation.  The 
Department retains the lead coordinating role over all 
programs in-country, including non-military security sector 
activities (including police, justice, and customs and border 
control) in host nations. 
 
¶9.  AFRICOM differs from traditional unified commands in four 
primary ways.  First and foremost is an ambitious focus on 
non-combat war prevention activities, rather than only 
war-fighting.  Second, the command has both a civilian Deputy 
to the Commander for Civil-Military Activities, Ambassador 
Mary Carlin Yates, and a military Deputy to the Commander for 
Military Operations, Vice Admiral Moeller. Third, 
"Directorates" have replaced the traditional military J-code. 
 Fourth, AFRICOM seeks significant interagency support from 
interagency personnel.  Like other commands, AFRICOM also 
retains a Foreign Policy Advisor, Jerry Lanier. 
 
¶10.  The establishment of AFRICOM has generated concerns 
within the international community regarding the potential 
militarization of U.S. Africa policy.  The Department and DoD 
have consistently stated that the establishment of AFRICOM 
will not degrade the Department of State's lead role in the 
development and implementation of U.S foreign policy in 
Africa. 
 
REPORTING DEADLINE 
------------------ 
 
¶11.  The Department greatly appreciates posts' continued 
support and assistance. Department requests action addressees 
report feedback or results of efforts via front-channel cable 
by October 7 with responses slugged for AF/RSA Jun Bando, 
NEA/RA Col. Steve Soucek, and PM/PPA Evan Foster. 
 
POINTS OF CONTACT 
---------- 
 
¶12.  Please contact AF/RSA Jun Bando at (202) 647-5781, 
NEA/RA Col. Steve Soucek at (202) 647-4506, or PM/PPA Evan 
Foster (202) 647-0336 or via email for any necessary further 
background information or supporting argumentation to meet 
demarche objectives. 
 
¶13.  Tripoli minimize considered. 
RICE