“The paper is divided into three parts. The first part assesses the structures and patterns of US foreign policy making in dealing with issues related to Africa. It also addresses the perceived interests of the US in Africa, which is second only to Asia in vastness. This serves as a background for the second part, which examines the origins and configuration of AFRICOM, and then summarises its intended activities. The third and final part
evaluates the interrelated and inherently contradictory implications of AFRICOM for the US and Africa. The paper concludes in an admittedly tentative way with an estimation of the realistic possibilities for AFRICOM’s
effectiveness and its prospects for achieving credibility in Africa under the Obama administration.”
