In Training Partner Militaries, U.S. Should Not Rush to ‘Do Something’ in Africa

In Training Partner Militaries, U.S. Should Not Rush to ‘Do Something’ in Africa
1st Lt. Salvatore Buzzurro, USARAF military mentor, works with members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces on basic soldiering skills in preparation for the African Union Mission in Somalia (U.S. Army Africa photo).

As African heads of state gather in Washington this week for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the continent looks relatively peaceful, at least in comparison to other regions. Even the agenda of the summit, which according to its website “will advance the Administration’s focus on trade and investment in Africa,” reflects Africa’s relative stability. Though peace and security issues are admittedly included in the agenda, they seem more like a footnote than a priority.

It is irrefutable that conflict in Africa has declined significantly over the past two decades and that African economies and the continent’s burgeoning middle classes represent a lucrative market for U.S. companies and investors. And yet, the recognition of Africa’s overall security, political and economic progress shouldn’t obscure its ongoing challenges. One that casts a particularly long shadow has also plagued large swaths of the Middle East and South Asia: violent Islamist extremism.

In recent weeks, media outlets, including this publication and The New York Times have noted the shift in U.S. counterterrorism strategy from direct action, such as drone strikes and capture-and-kill raids, to indirect action—namely training, equipping and advising partner or indigenous troops, with a limited American combat role.

Keep reading for free!

Get instant access to the rest of this article by submitting your email address below. You'll also get access to three articles of your choice each month and our free newsletter:

Or, Subscribe now to get full access.

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

What you’ll get with an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review:

A WPR subscription is like no other resource — it’s like having a personal curator and expert analyst of global affairs news. Subscribe now, and you’ll get:

  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of tens of thousands of articles.
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday.
  • Regular in-depth articles with deep dives into important issues and countries.
  • The Daily Review email, with our take on the day’s most important news, the latest WPR analysis, what’s on our radar, and more.
  • The Weekly Review email, with quick summaries of the week’s most important coverage, and what’s to come.
  • Completely ad-free reading.

And all of this is available to you when you subscribe today.

More World Politics Review