AFRICOM: Rationales, Roles, and Progress on the Eve of Operations – Part 2

On July 23, 2008, the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs held the second in a series of oversight hearings exploring the role of the Defense Department’s new Africa combatant command (AFRICOM) in relation to overall U.S. diplomatic, development, and defense interests and activities in Africa. This hearing focused on the expanding military involvement in diplomatic, humanitarian, and development activities and the character of overall U.S. global engagement.

This hearing was a follow-up to a July 15th hearing that featured Administration, AFRICOM, and GAO officials that explored the rationale, roles, and stand-up of AFRICOM in advance of its anticipated full operational capability as of October 1, 2008. Witness testimony and statements can be found here AFRICOM - Rationales, Roles, and Progress on the Eve of Operations

WITNESS LIST:

Amb. Jim Bishop, a former Ambassador to two African nations and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, who now works as the Vice President for Humanitarian Policy and Practice with InterAction.

Dr. Stephen Morrison, the Director of Africa Programs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Ms. Kathleen Hicks, a Senior Fellow in International Security at CSIS who specializes in interagency reform, military roles and missions, and stability operations.

Mr. Mark Malan, a Peace-building Program Officer with Refugees International who recently authored its July 2008 report entitled, “U.S. Civil-Military Imbalance for Global Engagement: Lessons from the Operational Level in Africa,” and a veteran of the South African military.