05 October 2015 by Africom - defenceWeb

The commander of U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army Gen. David Rodriguez, finished a weeklong trip to Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda Dory Oct. 2. Dory and Rodriguez met with officials in each country to discuss how AFRICOM and the U.S. Department of Defense can continue to help partner nations strengthen their military capacity.  “Defense cooperation is one of our core missions at U.S. Africa Command because we know that partnering with African states and regional organizations to constantly improve their capabilities and knowledge is important in addressing shared security challenges,” Rodriguez said.

Legions of Merit for AMISOM Support

Rodriguez also presented the Legion of Merit to six officers from the Uganda People’s Defence Force Sept. 30. The recipients are among less than 200 foreign citizens who’ve received the U.S. award and the first from Uganda. The awards specifically recognized the Ugandan officers for contributing to the African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, which is charged with reducing the threat of violent extremist organizations like al-Shabbab. First deployed in March 2007, the AMISOM military component has achieved significant territorial gains against the al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group al-Shabaab.  “Continued support to AMISOM is one of the important multinational efforts in place today. As a result of improved security, the Somali people and government have greater opportunities to make progress in the development of governance and economic institutions,” Rodriguez said. In 2014, the Ugandan People’s Defense Force liberated the port city of Barawe, Somalia, cutting off al-Shabaab’s access to what was a base and source of revenue. The UPDF also foiled a major al-Shabaab terrorist attack in Kampala. In Kenya, Rodriguez and Dory oversaw the formal establishment of the Massachusetts National Guard as the U.S. military partner for Kenya as part of the Defense Department’s State Partnership Program Oct. 1. The State Partnership Program is a coordinated effort between the Defense Department, the Department of State, the National Guard Bureau and the combatant commands where the partnered efforts occur.  “Our shared objective is to build professional militaries that, not only are capable of delivering on security priorities, but also respect human rights and adhere to the rule of law,” Rodriguez said. The partnership between the Massachusetts National Guard and Kenya is one of 12 ongoing state partnerships in Africa.  “AFRICOM recognizes the importance of partnership. A stable Africa ultimately means greater opportunities for collaboration toward shared goals and values that bind all our countries together,” Rodriguez said.

Recognizing Partner Efforts

During the trip Rodriguez also discussed how partner militaries in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia support regional security:

Djiboutian training for the Somali National Army has strengthened Somalia’s capacity to defend its government and its people from al-Shabaab. In addition, Djibouti hosts Camp Lemonnier, the sole enduring presence for the U.S. military in Africa.

The Ethiopian National Defense Force contributes troops in support of United Nations peacekeeping forces worldwide, making it the fourth largest contributor globally and the largest in Africa.

With support from the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense, the Somali Armed Forces continue to make progress in partnership with AMISOM to secure ungoverned space, defeat al-Shabaab, and create the conditions for a peaceful Somalia.

Rodriguez said Africa is home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world, and global leaders are increasingly recognizing the power of Africa’s diversity in people, resources and economies.

 “The link between security and prosperity is undeniable. For this reason, President Obama also identified building defense capacity among African partners as essential to advancing peace and security on the continent. As it works to meet these challenges, Africa is full of opportunity and promise and is becoming a major international player in world security,” Rodriguez added.

14.09.2015 par Philippe Chapleau - Lignes de Défense

La société américaine Fluor Corporation, l'un des trois firmes (avec DynCorp et KBR) retenues dans le cadre du LOGCAP IV (le Logistic Civil Augmentation Program), a annoncé qu'elle avait été choisie pour assurer le soutien des opérations de l'AFRICOM en Afrique, de l'Union africaine et des organisations régionales de sécurité d'Afrique. Lire le communiqué ici.

Fluor assurera le même type de missions au profit du SOUTHCOM (Caraïbes, Amériques centrale et latine).

Au siège de ces deux commandements (Stuttgart pour l'AFRICOM et Miami pour le SOUTHCOM), Fluor va détacher un responsable de la planification.

Pour en savoir plus sur Fluor et son rôle dans les contingency operations, cliquer ici.

Fluor fait aussi partie des huit firmes retenues dans le cadre de l'Air Force Contract Augmentation Program IV (AFCAP IV); ce programme de 6 ans débute le 1er octobre prochain.

20 February 2015 by Africom - defenceWeb

It was about advancing friendship, partnership and building trust. That is according to Maj. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, commander, U.S. Army Africa upon the close of the African Land Forces Summit, or ALFS, in Dakar, Senegal.

The summit, held from Feb. 9-12, brought together land force commanders from 36 African nations. The summit was co-hosted by U.S. Army Africa and the Senegalese Armed Forces on behalf of Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, U.S. Army Chief of Staff. The last ALFS took place three years prior, in Kampala, Uganda.

“This is a beginning. This is a conversation and this narrative is just beginning,” said Williams.

Part of that conversation was generated in closed-door meetings between commanders. Speakers from the U.S. and African partner militaries addressed topics such as African security challenges, peace support operations and institutional adaptation during plenary sessions with all the commanders. Commanders then split into three smaller groups, behind closed doors, to discuss the subject at hand.

The closed door approach helped leaders to speak freely during the sessions.

“ALFS is a good opportunity for USARAF and the African partners to discuss, to exchange, about security and about how to train our units,” said Brig. Gen. Cheikh Gueye, chief of Senegal Army Staff. “It is a good opportunity also to build trust,” he said. “Without trust you can’t achieve anything.”

For some of the land force commanders ALFS was an opportunity expand their reach and build relationships beyond what they normally would.

“I was already in contact with those from my region, from [Southern African Development Community] region, but today I have met others from other regions,” said Maj. Gen. Gotsileene Morake, chief of land forces Botswana. “From West Africa, from the Horn of Africa and from North Africa, we have been able to share experiences across a broad range of issues, African issues, which are actually very topical today.”

African land force commanders also visited a training center near Thies, Senegal. There they observed a live fire range with ground troops assaulting a position, and an armored vehicle range where Senegalese Armed Forces soldiers fired 90 millimeter guns from reconnaissance vehicles. Officers also visited École Nationale Des Officiers d'Active, an officer training school in Thies.

During a press conference at the end of the event Williams talked of the importance of ALFS and how that range played into future opportunities. Williams said he will look at taking the best from the U.S. Army training centers, the best from the Senegalese training center and combine them to work together. He said that was a short term benefit to having ALFS.

“The real benefits of this conference will be realized over time, again and again,” Williams added.

Geuye agreed with that assessment.

“Military interoperability is essential in conducting military operations or military missions,” Geuye said. “But if you have most African armies together you cannot develop, but initiate the first step toward interoperability.”

While the conference covered training, building institutions and live fire ranges, the real benefit, according to Maj. Gen. Ignacio Maulana, Malawi ground force commander, was working with his fellow commanders.

“The most important of all is that understanding, that, I think, we are all looking for peace,” Maulana said. “And, I think, all the ideas we have been able to share as a people responsible for security in our various nations should be able to assist.”

13/11/2014 Sources : État-major des armées

Point de situation sur les opérations de la force Barkhane, engagée dans la bande sahélo-saharienne (BSS), du 6 au 13 novembre 2014.

Dans la BSS la situation a été calme cette semaine malgré des actions de harcèlement des groupes armés terroristes dans le Nord du Mali.

Les opérations se poursuivent quotidiennement dans les deux fuseaux.

Le 6 novembre, le général de division Palasset, commandant l’opération Barkhane, a reçu le général d’armée américain David Rodriguez, commandant en chef d’AFRICOM. Cette rencontre souligne les excellentes relations entretenues avec nos alliés américains qui apportent une aide aux opérations françaises dans le Sahel, notamment en terme de transport aérien.

Dans le Nord du Mali, la force Barkhane a mené du 28 octobre au 6 novembre l’opération Tudelle de lutte contre les terroristes. Cette opération a mobilisé plus de 400 militaires dans des actions de contrôle de zone et de fouilles de caches terroristes. Au bilan, elle a permis la neutralisation de 26 terroristes, dont deux se sont rendus et ont été transférés aux autorités maliennes. Lors de cette opération, six véhicules, des dizaines de roquettes RPG7 et leurs lance-roquette, des dizaines de grenades à main et fusils, ainsi qu’un dépôt logistique ont été découverts.

L’opération Barkhane regroupe 3 000 militaires dont la mission, en partenariat avec les pays du G5 Sahel, consiste à lutter contre les groupes armés terroristes dans la bande sahélo-saharienne.

11/07/2014 Sources : EMA

Le 8 juillet 2014, le général d’armée Pierre de Villiers, chef d’état-major des armées (CEMA), a reçu le général d’armée David Rodriguez, chef du commandement régional des Etats-Unis pour l’Afrique (US AFRICOM).

Cette rencontre s’inscrit dans le cadre du dialogue militaire régulièrement entretenu entre les deux pays. Créé en 2007 et stationné à Stuttgart en Allemagne, l’AFRICOM a pour mission de coordonner les activités militaires des Etats-Unis sur le continent africain.

Au cours de leur entretien, le général de Villiers et le général Rodriguez ont fait le point sur la coopération militaire franco-américaine mise en œuvre au Sahel, dans la Corne de l’Afrique et en Afrique centrale. L’état-major américain AFRICOM constitue un partenaire privilégié dans des régions où la France entretient une présence permanente à travers son dispositif de forces prépositionnées et en opération, comme au Sénégal, au Gabon, au Tchad, en République centrafricaine, à Djibouti, en Côte d’Ivoire ou au Mali.

Cette coopération opérationnelle régionale s’est en effet renforcée depuis le déclenchement de l’opération Serval. Les Américains apportent notamment à la France un appui en moyens aériens dans les domaines du ravitaillement en vol et du transport tactique et stratégique. De plus, des actions communes appuient la montée en puissance de la mission des Nations unies pour la stabilisation au Mali (MINUSMA).

4 juillet, 2014 – BBC Afrique

Les autorités des Etats-Unis ont pour la première fois divulgué des informations sur le nombre total de militaires américains en Somalie.

Des fonctionnaires à Washington ont expliqué à l'agence de presse Reuters qu'environ 120 soldats américains sont déployés dans le pays.

L'envoyé spécial de la BBC en Somalie a constaté la présence sur place de militaires américains engagés dans des opérations contre des insurgés d'al Shabab, organisation islamiste liée à al-Qaïda.

Suite de l'artilce

17.06.2014 par Philippe Chapleau - Lignes de Défense

L'USTRANSCOM (Transportation Command) et l'AFRICOM organisent les 9 et 10 juillet (à O'Fallon, Illinois) un atelier de mise en place d'un "Multinational Airlift Consortium Working Group". Contacts et "special notice" sont à consulter ici.

Selon l'avis, il s'agit d'étudier la faisabilité d'une externalisation du transport aérien (personnels et fret) au profit des forces armées US (DoD)  mais aussi d'autres agences fédérales (non-DoD) déployées sur le continent africain, ainsi que des partenaires multinationaux.

L'avis précise "low volume": 10-14 passagers et 2000/6000 pounds de fret, et "low frequency": 1/2 fois par semaine.

Le/les prestataires, si l'USTRANSCOM prolonge l'atelier du 9 et 10 juillet, devront fournir des appareils, des équipages et tout l'équipement d'entretien etc.

10 June 2014 by US Army Africa/defenceWeb

Major General Patrick J Donahue II handed command of US Army Africa (USARAF) to Major General Darryl A Williams during a ceremony on Hoekstra Field at Vicenza in Italy.

General David M Rodriguez, Commanding General of US Africa Command (Africom) presided over the change of command ceremony.

“Under General Donahue’s leadership, Army Africa worked with the first Regionally Aligned Force and helped ensure its success,” Rodriguez said.

“When the regionally aligned force is training, exercising or enabling partners, US and African soldiers benefit from enhanced skills, inter-operability and readiness. The regionally aligned force also supports the protection of US personnel and facilities on the continent.”

Rodriguez praised Donahue’s leadership of USARAF.

“Another way the US Army is transforming to meet the challenges of the 21st century security environment is by developing leaders who can work effectively with a broad range of partners,” he said.

“This includes partners from other countries, government agencies and military services. Army Africa has deepened partnerships with African and European militaries, with civilian agencies and with other Service components,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez welcomed Williams as the incoming USARAF commander.

“As Pat and Maureen Donahue depart for Army Forces Command, they pass leadership of the Army Africa team to Darryl and his wife Erin. I know the Williams’ will continue to lead this team superbly. Thank you all for your continued contributions to advancing our nation’s interests in Africa. We will go forward, together," Rodriguez said.

Williams said he was thankful of the opportunity to serve as USARAF’s commander.

“Gen Rodriguez thank you for having confidence in me and giving me an opportunity to command this great organisation of soldiers and civilians.

"Pat (Donahue), the work you have done with the US Army Africa team has made great changes in Africa. I am honoured and humbled to follow in your footsteps and look forward to the challenge.” Williams said.

“USARAF’s mission on the continent of Africa could not be more relevant than it is today. The team of professionals you have assembled is proving each day how valuable they are to the mission. I look forward to working alongside these fine men and women,” the new force commander said.

A Boeing Osprey used by the US Marine Corps

13 March 2014 defenceWeb (Reuters)

On a dusty training ground in Niger, U.S. Special Forces teach local troops to deal with suspects who resist arrest. "Speed, aggression, surprise!" an instructor barks as two Nigeriens wrestle a U.S. adviser out of a car.

The drill in the border town of Diffa is part of Operation Flintlock, a counter-terrorism exercise for nations on the Sahara's southern flanks that the United States organizes each year. Washington's aim is to tackle Islamist militants in the Sahel region while keeping its military presence in Africa light.

A growing number of European nations taking part shows their increasing concern about security in West Africa. Central to the international effort is a blossoming relationship between the United States and France, the former colonial power and traditional "policeman" of the turbulent region.

When Paris deployed 4,000 troops to fight Islamist militants in neighboring Mali last year, the U.S. military lent a hand by airlifting French soldiers and equipment, providing intelligence and training African forces to join the operation.

French troops are stretched by hunting the militants in Mali and tackling religious violence in Central African Republic, so only a handful participated in Flintlock. Nevertheless, they welcomed their new partnership with Washington.

"The Americans want to get involved in Africa. That's good for us. We know that with the Americans it will be more efficient," said a French Special Forces officer, who asked not to be named. "We use American logistics - that's what we are missing. On the other hand, we provide the local knowledge."

The United States fast-tracked the sale of 12 Reaper drones to France last year, the first two of which started operating in Niger in January alongside U.S. drones already there.

In a reminder of the partnership, a drone quietly taxied past troops and dignitaries at Flintlock's closing ceremony in the capital of Niamey before taking off to scour the Sahara.

U.S. FACING BUDGET CUTS

Military experts say direct U.S. military action in Africa is limited to short raids on "high-value" targets in places such as Somalia and Libya, while French troops take on longer, bigger operations.

J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center at the U.S.-based Atlantic Council, said this arrangement suited U.S. military planners who face budget cuts and a diminished American appetite for combat after conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, he warned that the French military was at the limit of its ability to strike militants hard. "If the French are not able to provide that blunt instrument, is the U.S. willing to do so?"

Nine years after the Flintlock exercises began, the enemy has evolved from a group of Algerian-dominated fighters focused on northern Mali and now threatens nations across the Sahara and the arid Sahel belt to the south.

For most of 2012, militants occupied northern Mali, a desert zone the size of France. Scattered by a French offensive last year, many are believed to be regrouping in southern Libya.

Hundreds of people are being killed every month in clashes with Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria. Many in Niger fear this conflict could spill over the border and the government in Niamey has appealed for more military support.

"Instability in neighboring states has given everybody a new incentive," General James Linder, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, told Reuters while visiting Niger

This year's three-week Flintlock exercise - involving over 1,000 troops from 18 nations - was the biggest yet and runs alongside more permanent training by U.S. Special Forces in Niger, Mauritania, Senegal and Chad.

Training in Diffa, only a few kilometers from where Boko Haram militants are fighting the Nigerian army across the border, ranged from basic patrolling skills and setting up checkpoints to sharing intelligence and providing medical care.

In a region where armies often lack basics such as ammunition for target practice and fuel for vehicles, the quality and tempo of the U.S.-sponsored exercise eclipses the training most soldiers in the region receive in a year.

Colonel Mounkaila Sofiani, the local Niger commander, said Flintlock and other U.S. initiatives helped his country to tackle threats from the west, north and south better. "Little by little people are being trained," he said. "Once there are enough, they'll form the spine of a reliable force."

Training is meant to build up coordination between armies but Sofiani said just finding radio equipment compatible between nations is difficult. In the field, officers exchange mobile phone numbers to bypass blockages in official channels.

A lack of trust between governments also hinders responses. At a recent meeting of intelligence chiefs, the Nigerien and Libyan representatives argued over the risk of instability spreading from Libya's lawless south, a diplomat told Reuters.

Coups in Mauritania, Niger and Mali since the Flintlock exercises began also halted cooperation until civilian rule was restored. Mali's 2012 coup, led by a captain with U.S. training, opened the door to the Islamist takeover of the north, prompting questions about what the years of exercises had achieved.

Pham said better military capabilities had not been matched by improvements in governance, citing a failure by Mali to tackle corruption. Chad's military, however, has won praise for leading the charge alongside French troops in flushing out the militants from Mali's desolate northern mountains.

U.S. officials stress the exercise is African-led and are wary about people reading too much into U.S. troops being on the ground near African conflicts. But the show of foreign support is popular in Diffa.

"It sends a message to Boko Haram and others," said Inoussa Saouna, the central government's representative in Diffa. "Before Mali, we thought terrorism was a problem for whites but now we've experienced it ourselves."

11 mars, 2014 tunisienumerique.com

Le porte-parole du ministère de la Défense, le colonel major Taoufik Rahmouni, a confirmé l’information rapportée par le « Los Angeles Times » en rapport avec le débarquement d’éléments des forces spéciales américaines arrivés par hélicoptère dans une base militaire dans le Sud de la Tunisie.

Il a cependant annoncé qu’ils ne sont aucunement au nombre de 50.

Le porte-parole a souligné que cette présence rentre dans le cadre d’un programme de formation et d’entraînement commun, et d’échange d’expériences et de visites entre le ministère de la Défense et le Pentagone , et que les éléments débarqués ne sont qu’une unité mobile spécialisée dans l’entraînement militaire.

Le colonel major Rahmouni a démenti catégoriquement toutes les « allégations » liant ces informations à une supposée installation d’une base militaire américaine dans le Sud tunisien ».

Le journal américain avait affirmé que l’opération de débarquement s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un accord entre les deux ministère de la Défense portant sur l’entraînement de militaires tunisiens en matière de techniques de lutte contre le terrorisme dans le but de former une élite de militaires tunisiens spécialisés dans l’anticipation des plans tactiques des terroristes.

07 March 2014 by American Forces Press Service - defenceWeb

Helped by the Arab Spring, terrorist groups in North and West Africa have expanded their operations, increasing threats to the United States and its interests, the commander of U.S. Africa Command told Congress on Thursday.

“These revolutions, coupled with the fragility of neighboring states, continue to destabilize the region,” Army General David M. Rodriguez told the Senate Armed Services Committee in prepared testimony.

“The spillover effects of revolutions include the return of fighters and flow of weapons from Libya to neighboring countries following the fall of the Gadhafi regime and the export of foreign fighters from North Africa to the Syrian conflict,” the general said.

Rodriguez described the security situation in Libya -- where a NATO-backed air campaign in 2011 aimed at protecting civilians from pro-Gadhafi forces eventually led to the leader’s overthrow -- as volatile and tenuous, especially in the east and southwest. “Militia groups control significant areas of territory and continue to exert pressure on the Libyan government,” he said.

Africom, he said, is working to help build Libyan security forces, but in the meantime, terrorist groups including those affiliated with al-Qaida have taken root in vast, lawless areas of the country and are using the region as a base to extend their reach across northwest Africa.

Farther west, though, Rodriguez pointed to success the United States and its French and African allies have had in stabilizing Mali, where Islamic extremists took control of a large swath of the desert country’s north following a coup two years ago. “U.S. support has enabled [United Nations forces] and French operations to secure key cities and disrupt terrorist organizations,” he added.

Rodriguez described challenges facing the United States and Europe across the continent, from the Sahael region in West Africa to Somalia in the east.

“The collective aftermath of revolutions in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt, including uncertain political transitions, spillover effects, and exploitation by violent extremist organizations of under-governed spaces and porous borders are key sources of instability that require us to remain vigilant in the near term,” he said. While multi-national efforts are disrupting terrorists, he added, “the growth and activity of the violent extremist network across the African continent continues to outpace these efforts.”

Rodriguez ticked off a list of security challenges facing the continent and his command.

Despite programs and exercises with Nigeria, the terrorist group Boko Haram continues to attack civilian and government facilities and has extended its reach into neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon. In Somalia, after having no presence in the country for years, the U.S. military now has three people on the ground, he said, to coordinate with U.N. and other partnered forces to disrupt and contain al-Shabaab forces and expand areas under the control of the nominal government in Mogadishu.

He described the efforts as playing “limited, but important roles” in weakening the militant group, which controls portions of the country and claimed responsibility for a massacre at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, in September that killed more than 60 people.

Rodriguez reported significant progress in reducing piracy.

“In 2013, zero ships were hijacked in nine attempted attacks in the region,” he said. Just two years earlier, there had been more than 150 attempted hijackings.

While Rodriguez said Africom is using military-to-military engagements, programs, exercises and other operations to respond to crises and deter threats, he emphasized that these efforts are geared toward enabling African partners to handle these problems.

“We believe efforts to meet security challenges in Africa are best led and conducted by African partners,” he said, efforts that ultimately will depend on African nations developing effective partner-nation security institutions that respect civilian authority.

04/12/2013 Sources : EMA

Le 22 novembre 2013, le général d’armée David Rodriguez, chef du commandement régional des États-Unis pour l’Afrique (AFRICOM) a rendu visite aux militaires engagés au sein de la force Épervier à N’Djaména.

La délégation américaine conduite par son excellence monsieur James Knight, ambassadeur américain au Tchad est arrivée vers 9h30 sur la base « SGC Adji Kosseï ». La visite a débuté par une présentation de la mission générale de la force Épervier par le colonel Alain Dupas, chef de l’état-major interarmées de la force. Elle s’est ensuite poursuivie par une visite du détachement américain implanté au sein du CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center, le Centre interarmées des opérations aériennes) qui a pour mission de planifier et de conduire l’ensemble des missions aériennes au profit des différentes opérations et forces stationnées en l’Afrique Centrale et de l’Ouest. Cette visite s’est achevée par le groupement Terre et le groupement Air qui ont présenté leurs implantations et effectué des démonstrations dynamiques de leurs matériels.

Cette rencontre s’inscrit dans le cadre de la coopération bilatérale et du dialogue militaire régulier entretenu entre la France et les États-Unis. Créé en 2007 et stationné à Stuttgart en Allemagne, l’AFRICOM a pour mission de coordonner les activités militaires des États-Unis sur le continent africain. Il constitue un partenaire privilégié dans des régions où la France entretient une présence permanente à travers son dispositif de forces prépositionnées ou en opération, comme au Tchad.

Les militaires de la force Épervier assurent deux missions permanentes : ils apportent un soutien aux forces armées et de sécurité (FADS) tchadiennes, conformément à l’accord de coopération technique signé entre la France et le Tchad et sont en mesure de garantir, si nécessaire, la sécurité des ressortissants français résidant au Tchad.

06/10/2013 Par lefigaro.fr
 

Abou Anas al-Libi, recherché depuis quinze ans pour son rôle dans les attentats de 1998 contre des ambassades américaines au Kenya et en Tanzanie, a été capturé en Libye. Les forces spéciales américaines ont également mené un raid contre les Chebab en Somalie.