U.S. AFRICOM and the Security Challenge in East and West Africa
Germany – Al-Mohaqiq
The Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Christopher Grady, underscored the strategic importance of East, Central, and West Africa for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), citing the region’s fast-growing youth population alongside the mounting security challenges it faces.
Speaking at AFRICOM’s change-of-command ceremony on August 15 at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany—where U.S. Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley formally handed over leadership to U.S. Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson—Grady described Africa as “a region marked by rapid economic growth and a youthful population offering a demographic dividend.”
He stressed the importance of sustained U.S. engagement in critical areas such as the Horn of Africa, West Africa, and the Sahel.
Referring pointedly to the region’s volatile security environment and the risk of extremist infiltration, Grady said Africa represents “a military crossroads where global competitors test our resolve and where violent extremist organizations seek safe haven.” He warned that instability in the region could spread “well beyond the continent,” adding: “By working alongside our African partners, we learn from them and help them strengthen their defenses.”
AFRICOM’s official news release on Friday confirmed that the ceremony, held August 15, was presided over by Admiral Grady, who emphasized the command’s role in bolstering U.S. national security and advancing defense partnerships across Africa.
General Anderson—an experienced aviator with over 3,400 flight hours, including 738 in combat—assumed command during the ceremony. His background includes intelligence-driven rapid operations and joint force planning. Previous assignments include Director of Joint Force Development at the Joint Staff, Commander of Special Operations Command Africa, and head of Joint Task Force–Quartz.
“I am no stranger to Africa’s challenges,” Anderson said. “I am acutely aware of the growing global threats competing for influence on the continent, seeking to destabilize the international order we benefit from, and to undermine the way of life we all defend.”
General Langley, who took command in August 2022, oversaw a period marked by intensified global competition and regional upheaval. Under his leadership, AFRICOM prioritized strengthening partner capacity, sharpening operational readiness, and enhancing interoperability with African and allied forces. These efforts, he noted, improved regional stability and positioned U.S. forces for rapid crisis response, all while maintaining a commitment to an “Africa-led” security approach.
“We innovate solutions led by Africans—that’s the essence of AFRICOM,” Langley said. “It’s bittersweet to relinquish this great command, but I’m handing it to a great man. Dag, this team won’t let you down. You’ll take them to the next level.”
AFRICOM’s mission, the report noted, continues to center on working with African and international partners to confront transnational threats and malign actors, strengthen security forces, and respond to crises—all in pursuit of U.S. national interests while advancing regional stability and prosperity.
AFRICOM is one of seven U.S. geographic combatant commands, responsible for military engagement across 53 African countries. In partnership with allies, the command focuses on countering “malign actors” and transnational threats, supporting African security forces, and reinforcing broader U.S. government efforts to promote security, stability, and prosperity across the continent.
