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US weighing future of military command in Africa, top general says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 27, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Quick Summary
The US is reviewing AFRICOM's future, with potential changes to its structure. General Langley encourages African nations to express their views.
US Evaluates Future of Military Command in Africa, Says General
By Aaron Ross
NAIROBI (Reuters) -The United States is assessing the future of its military command for Africa, its top general for the continent said on Tuesday, and called on African governments to make their views on its possible elimination known in Washington.
President Donald Trump's administration is considering merging AFRICOM, which became a distinct geographical command in 2008, with the U.S. command in Europe to cut bureaucracy, American media outlets reported in March.
Speaking to reporters before a conference of African defence chiefs in Kenya, AFRICOM's commander, General Michael Langley, said he had discussed the issue with officials on the continent.
"I've talked to a number of ministers of defence and a few presidents and told them we were assessing," Langley said.
He said governments should make their views about AFRICOM's future known through their ambassadors in the U.S.
"That's what I tell them. I said: 'okay, if we're that important to (you), you need to communicate that and we'll see'."
Before 2008, U.S. military activities in Africa were handled by commands from other regions. AFRICOM's creation reflected rising U.S. national security interests on the continent, including Islamist insurgencies and competition with China and Russia.
In West Africa, where groups with ties to al Qaeda and Islamic State have grown in recent years, U.S. security influence has waned following a series of military coups.
The putsches forced Washington to pull back on security support and brought to power juntas that have turned to Russia for assistance.
Last year, the ruling junta in Niger ordered the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country and vacate a $100 million drone base.
Langley said the U.S. had nevertheless maintained some intelligence sharing with the military regimes in the Sahel region and was looking for "other ways to continue to stay engaged".
(Reporting by Aaron Ross;Editing by Alison Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •The US is assessing the future of AFRICOM.
- •Potential merger with US European Command is considered.
- •General Langley urges African governments to voice opinions.
- •US military influence in West Africa has waned.
- •AFRICOM was established in 2008 for US security interests.
Frequently Asked Questions about US weighing future of military command in Africa, top general says
1What is the current status of AFRICOM?
The U.S. is assessing the future of its military command for Africa, AFRICOM, which was established as a distinct command in 2008.
2What prompted the evaluation of AFRICOM?
The evaluation is part of a consideration to merge AFRICOM with the U.S. command in Europe to reduce bureaucracy.
3How have African governments responded to the U.S. military presence?
General Michael Langley has urged African governments to communicate their views on AFRICOM's future through their ambassadors in the U.S.
4What challenges does the U.S. face in West Africa?
U.S. security influence in West Africa has diminished due to a series of military coups, leading to a pullback on security support.
5What is the U.S. doing in response to military regimes in the Sahel?
Despite the challenges, the U.S. has maintained some intelligence sharing with military regimes in the Sahel region and is exploring other ways to stay engaged.
