Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari solicited the support of the United States of America to tackle Africa’s growing insecurity in the region. He specifically requested that United States moves the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa. In this report, ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU writes on the likely implications of this move on the war against terrorism.
Insecurity in Africa, especially the Sub-Saharan Africa, has been on an all time high with the governments of these countries seeking ways to curb the trend individually and as a region.
This may have informed President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to the United States to reconsider relocating US Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Stuttgart, Germany, to Africa, nearer the Theatre of Operation.
Buhari also called on the international community to support Nigeria and the sub-region in tackling growing security challenges to avoid spill over in a virtual meeting with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
He said AFRICOM, which partners with countries to counter transnational threats, should be relocated to Africa to strengthen ongoing efforts to check the security situation with likely effect on other nations.
“The security challenges in Nigeria remained of great concern to us and impacted more negatively by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad Region.
“Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and her security forces remain firmly committed to containing them and addressing their root causes.
“The support of essential and strategic partners like the United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations hence the imperative for concerted cooperation and collaboration of all countries to overcome these challenges.
“In this connection, and considering the growing security challenges in West and Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Chad region and the Sahel, weighing heavily on Africa, it underscores the need for the United States to consider relocating AFRICOM Headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa and near the Theatre of Operation,’’ he said.
The President further stated that Nigeria would enhance collaborations in all forms, with friends and strategic partners, to work together for greater security for all, which remain the most essential condition for overcoming the existential challenges.
However, a publication by Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org) titled: In a Reversal, Nigeria Wants U.S. Africa Command Headquarters in Africa noted that the request marked, “A reversal of official Nigerian opposition, first made public 12 years ago, to AFRICOM plans to move to the continent.
“The shift likely reflects the conclusion that the security situation in West Africa and Nigeria is out of control, spurring a willingness to consider options hitherto unacceptable.
“Buhari argued that AFRICOM’s headquarters should be closer to the theater of operations. He also seemed to imply greater U.S. involvement in West African security, including a kinetic dimension in the context of greater Western support for West Africa’s response to its security threats.
“When President George W. Bush established AFRICOM in 2007, a military-civilian hybrid command in support of Africa, African official reaction was largely hostile, seeing the effort as “neo-colonialist.”
“The Nigerian government took the lead in persuading or strong-arming other African states against accepting the AFRICOM headquarters, which was thereupon established at Stuttgart, Germany, already the headquarters of the European Command.
“However, AFRICOM’s effective response to humanitarian crises, such as quickly establishing field hospitals in Ebola-affected areas in 2014, has ameliorated, at least somewhat, African hostility. More immediately, West Africa especially is facing security challenges beyond the ability of African states to control on their own.
“France has been the most important outside force against jihadi terrorism, but French involvement in seemingly never-ending military operations is unpopular at home, and President Emmanuel Macron has raised the specter of a drawdown or withdrawal in West Africa as he prepares for potentially strong opposition in the 2022 French presidential election.”
CFR further stated that, “In Nigeria, in some quarters at least, panic has emerged over the erosion of security, and calls on the Buhari administration to seek outside help have been growing.
“In addition to opposing AFRICOM in the first place, the Nigerian military authorities have been largely uncooperative with the U.S. military. Hence, U.S. military involvement in Nigeria beyond limited training operations is minimal, and the country does not host any American defence installations.
“Successive Nigerian governments have wanted to purchase sophisticated American military equipment but have rejected U.S. oversight. In fact, Nigerian purchases of U.S. military material have been rare, despite their high-profile, ultimately successful purchase of 12 A-29 Super Tucanos sophisticated aircraft.
“From an American perspective, moving AFRICOM’s headquarters after 14 years in Stuttgart would be a major undertaking. The defence review, now underway, will likely include the AFRICOM headquarters location issue.
“However, should the AFRICOM headquarters move, it is unlikely, if not impossible, that it would be to Africa, with its logistical challenges.
“Some in the U.S. Congress support moving AFRICOM’s headquarters to the United States as a cost-effective alternative. For example, South Carolina’s senators, both Republican, have advocated moving it to Charleston, the site of large U.S. military installations.”
Opposition backs re-location of AFRICOM to Africa
The leading opposition party in Nigeria, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described the call for the support of United States of America in the prosecution of war against terror, especially by AFRICOM to Africa as welcome development.
PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, told our correspondent in an interview that, “We are for anything that can restore normalcy in Nigeria.”
Secondus, who had earlier lamented that Nigerians could not continue to watch while terrorist and bandits continue to wage war on the nation, also advocated for synergy and cooperation among the armed services, strategically and operationally.
“There is no reason a theatre Commander should not have within his control the deployment of the Air Force, the Army, and the Navy in his operational area.
“Efforts should be made towards partnership with foreign governments and miscellaneous entities for the war efforts. The situation in our country is not normal and exceptional steps should be taken to restore it to normalcy.
“President Buhari’s call that the U. S should support Africa’s efforts in tackling growing insecurity in the region by relocating AFRICOM to Africa is a welcome development to our party but it should not only rhetoric, it should happen.
“We need help as nation at this critical time. So, we must seek help from those who are experts. Not only by relocating AFRICOM to Africa, but help with technology and equipment so that our armed forces, men and women on duty would be well protected.
“To win this war, the welfare of the men and women in our armed forces is also very important. So, anything that can restore normalcy in our country that is what we stand for, whether it is coming from outside or inside.”
It’ll make no difference – Expert
A United Kingdom based terrorism expert Dr. Joseph Sunny Ifedimma has warned that AFRICOM would not make much difference.
The terrorism expert, however, called on President Buhari to establish a third force to effectively tackle the lingering insecurity across the country.
Ifedimma, who is the Director, Africa Counter Terrorism and Security Academy, in England, lamented that Boko Haram and other terror fraternities in Nigeria are seriously challenging and undermining national security and unity.
Emphasising the importance of a third force to flush out insurgents and other security threats, he noted, “In combating terrorism globally, the UN league of charter on terrorism recommended the formation of a third force devoid of the military and police, which is supposed to be an independent organisation.”
In a letter titled: Conscientious appeal to the presidential tenant of power, Ifedimma explained that “The powers and responsibilities to fight and manage terrorism need to be domiciled with the appropriate institution.
“Surprisingly, in Nigeria currently, there is no specific agency responsible for this; nor has there been anyone occupying the vacant office of the Counter Terrorism Adviser to the President since 2015 till date.
“This could be an operational oversight that needs a careful review. This office is structured to be the conscience and voice of the nation and president on counter terrorism and allied matters.
“The core essence of this office was to provide effective coordination, streamline and regulate the activities of our counter terrorism agencies.”
Continuing he said, “These upscale attacks, their frequencies and atrocities in Nigeria will continue to constitute challenging and trying times, so Nigeria needs to engage the professional services of relevant intellectuals and experts.
“Added to what you inherited were the indices of the current regional pandemonium, transpiring in the South-west, South-east and South-south. We are dealing with a new band of terrorists trained outside the normal profile though so far your new Service Chiefs are audaciously dealing with the situation.
“AFRICOM will make no much difference if relocated, because we are dealing with locally unique bred terrorists. It’s an intelligence driven war, so we must strengthen our intelligence services and attendant structures.
“Outside the garrisoned environments, information analysis centres be established where passersby with strayed intelligence could pop in devoid of much interrogations to drop intelligence.”
He further stated that, “Managing and sharing intelligence amongst our services must be streamlined to avoid possessive intelligence monopolies.
“Nigeria can handle this situation with the current crops of service chiefs, who have not only started well operationally but had introduced strategic novel ideas their predecessors never thought about.
“the idea of ‘killing all none state actors in the forests’ credited to General Irabor is what is called communal punishment in counter terrorism.
“It is the most effective strategy, and Americans even deployed that in Afghanistan shortly after 9/11 attacks. However, there must be a balance as we do this because terrorists have theirs called ‘communal predawn massacre’ one strategy begets another and this is where the office of the Presidential Adviser comes in.”
Serious problems need drastic measures – Ex-US Army officer
A retired Army Captain in the United States Army, Bishop Johnson has said it will make a lot of sense that Nigeria government engaged international partners like the United States of America to address these security challenges.
In a phone chat with our correspondent, Bishop said, “It will make sense that we engage international partners who may have the capacity and who may have also learnt from previous experiences in dealing with situation like that to be close to us and assist us to dismantle these security challenges before these security challenges will dismantle us.
“Serious problems need drastic measures; if the United States opens a base in Nigeria and assists us in dismantling all these security challenges, myriad of none state actors that are trying to tear down the country, I think it will be a good one.”
He further stated that, “As someone who has served in the United States Military, I have been privileged and opportune to serve in many countries where the United States maintain military basis. As you are aware the US maintain military base in Japan, South Korea, Guwan near North Korea, Germany and several other places.
“Part of the reasons why this military bases are maintained is strategic. It gives the United State Military the ability to respond to security challenges across the globe, at the slightest notice and with a very minimum cost. It’s cost effective for them, in deploying military forces to respond to security challenges across the globe.
“I have been one of those who welcome the idea of maintaining a US Navy Base in Nigeria. When they first approached the Nigeria government to maintain a military base here, specifically a drone base, which is now in Niger.
“Now, Nigeria is facing an unprecedented security challenge that even in my own estimation is even worse than what we went through during the civil war because during the civil war, there was one enemy. The enemy was the conventional enemy, so you know where the enemy is located and that gives you the opportunity to find a strategy to combat that enemy.
“Now, what we have in this country is scattered security challenges all over the place. You don’t know who your enemy is, but your enemy is inflicting serious damage, both economically and politically on you.
“You have Boko Haram, Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP), you have bandits, which to me are terrorists. You have all kind of separatists’ agitations; you have harder ravaging the entire country. So, there are those myriad of security challenges facing the country and the country does not have a coercive strategy of how to deal with it.”
Speaking further he said, “Another advantage is that any where the United State open military base they provide employment for the local population. And they also add to the local economy, because they make some of their purchase from the local market. So they add to the local economy and contribute to the economy output of the country.
Continuing the retired captain said, “The disadvantage is that you have a foreign military on your soil. The implication is that they may spy on you and should that be the case, some of your national secrets will be in their reach.
“Another disadvantage is that Nigeria is a sovereign nation with its own interest. And sometimes the interest of Nigeria and that of the United States may not align in which case Nigeria may want to differ with United States on some international situations.
“But I will advise that the advantages of having the US military base in Nigeria now, in a short run, will outweigh the disadvantages if you ask me.
“Some people in our country may have contrary view base on their experience and their experiences they’ve gathered in places where US has maintained military base in foreign lands.
“The most important thing is agreement. What will be the term and conditions? Those are what will be more important. The relationship will have to be more defined. It must not be just for the relocation of the AFRCOM headquarters to Nigeria. There has to be specific terms and conditions, so that Nigeria can benefit from the US extended military capacity, while at the same time maintaining its own integrity as a sovereign nation.”
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The Managing Director Beacon Consulting Ltd, Dr Kabir Adamu, has said the most important thing was to address the root causes of the insecurity, arguing that AFRICOM may not reduce the insecurity.
Adamu, who is a security risk management expert, in a phone chat with Blueprint Weekend said, “There are two angles that we can look at it. What are the security problems that we are having in the country? It is mainly terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and several other things.
“Now, are there external factors that are influencing this terrorism threats? Yes. Now, how much has Nigeria been able to curtail these external factors? Frankly, not too much.
“So, the presence of the US AFRCOM in either Nigeria or the sub region will hopefully reduce some of these threats. However, the root cause of some of these security threats, which is terrorism, is traced to bad governance hence no level of presence of US military or external forces can reduce or stop these root causes. It’s an internal thing that will have to be addressed internally.”
Peaking further he said, “Yes, they can help with those external one, but the internal ones will have to be addressed by ourselves. And they are poverty, unemployment, closed political space, issues around structural in balances that need to be corrected by Nigeria government.
“The foreign element is important, but it will not stop the challenge. What is even more important is to look at those remote causes?
“I will recommend a hybrid of engaging our partners like the US and then most importantly opening up the political space and engage more political stakeholders. That will allow law enforcement to do their work, more importantly law enforcement will have to be strengthen too.”
