AFRICOM Progress Challenges and Prospects

Mar 24

AFRICOM: Progress, Challenges and Prospects

Location: The Heritage Foundation's Allison Auditorium

Africa is no longer a distant region whose instability and problems can be ignored by the United States. In recognition of Africa's rising importance, President George W. Bush announced on February 6, 2007, that the United States will create a new, unified combatant command for Africa (AFRICOM) to oversee security, enhance strategic cooperation, build partnerships, support nonmilitary missions, and conduct military operations as necessary. The unique challenges facing Africa led the Administration to set up a new type of command for the continent incorporating officials from other U.S. agencies. Six months after AFRICOM was officially established in October 2007 many questions remain about its mission, how smoothly the process to set up the new command is proceeding, how it will affect U.S. foreign and national security policy, and how it will affect America's relationships with African nations. Join us as our distinguished panelists discuss these issues.

More About the Speakers

PANEL 1 - WHERE DOES AFRICOM STAND?
INTERAGENCY INTEGRATION AND STANDING UP THE COMMAND

Theresa Whelan
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs,
U.S. Department of Defense

Lauren Ploch
Africa Analyst,
Congressional Research Service

Tom Donnelly
Resident Fellow,
American Enterprise Institute

Sean McFate
Program Director for the National Security Initiative,
Bipartisan Policy Center

PANEL 2 - THE FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF AFRICOM

Edwin Sele
Deputy Chief of Mission,
Embassy of Liberia

Ambassador Usman Baraya
Embassy of Nigeria

Louis Mazel
Director,
Office of African Regional and Security Affairs,
U.S. Department of State

Guillaume Lacroix
Counselor,
Embassy of France

Event Details

DATEMonday, Mar 24, 2008
TIME10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

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This event is related to the

American Leadership Initiative of the
Leadership for America Campaign

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