Kofi Ampeah Woode
As sequel to the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) organized Africa Chiefs of Defence Conference 2025 (ACHOD 25) – held on 28 May 2025 in Kenya, the Commander, US AFRICOM – US Marine Corps General (Gen) Michael Langley held an online Special Briefing Conference with selected media organizations across Africa.
The media conference on Friday 30 May 2025, was organized by the US Department of State’s Africa Regional Media Hub, with journalists taking turns to field questions, to which Gen M Langley responded.
Setting the tone with his opening address, US Marine Corps Gen Langley outlined US AFRICOM’s strategic approach, which he said is based on a charge to the Command by US Secretary of Defense – Pete Hegseth; to mitigate threats to the US homeland, which is posed by terrorist organizations, the most dangerous of which are from Africa.
To carry out the charge, firstly, US AFRICOM is increasingly focused on helping its African partners address the root causes of terrorism – which is instability at the local level – through intelligence sharing, capacity building, and institutional strengthening, using and recommending tools beyond just the military might.
With the notion that militaries must be deeply integrated into society, to ensure safety and prosperity, US AFRICOM’s aim is to support African nations in building the self-reliance needed to confront terrorism and insurgency, by assisting in building strong, capable military and security forces.
Such partnerships, he said, are summed up in “Peace through Strength”, with emphasis on partnerships.
Secondly, the United States believes that as resources are rebalanced globally, it is essential that all of its partners around the world, take more ownership in their regional and continental security; for which reason, US military engagements emphasize the readiness of independent operations.
The US AFRICOM annually holds military exercises on the African continent, such as; African Lion in North and West Africa, Flintlock in the Sahel, and the Express Maritime Series like Obangame Express in western Africa, Cutlass Express in the east, and Phoenix Express in the Mediterranean.
Gen Langley believes that such exercises are about progressing to independent operations, building interoperability among nations, interoperability that will enable crisis response and command-level leadership among African militaries.
Of terrorism, General Langley pinned the Sahel as the epicentre of terrorism, with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger confronted with attacks each and every day; as terrorist networks affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaida are thriving, particularly in Burkina Faso, where the government has lost control of wide swaths of territory across its sovereign boundaries.
One of the terrorists’ new objectives, he asserted, is gaining access to West African coasts to secure access to the coastline, via which they can finance their operations through smuggling, human trafficking, and arms trading.
This objective, he says, puts not just African nations at risk, but also increases the chances of threats reaching US shores, for which reason, US AFRICOM is resourcing its coastal partners like Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin, to fight fiercely to prevent terrorist expansion along their northern borders.
In East Africa, in support of the Somalia Federal Government, the U.S. is actively pursuing and eliminating jihadists, and at the request of the Somali Government in 2025, US AFRICOM has conducted over 25 airstrikes.
Gen M Langley’s second charge from Secretary Hegseth is to confront the military ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party on the continent of Africa, asserting that while the US works to build transparency and respectful partnerships, China continues to pursue access to Africa’s resources, often ignoring long-term sustainability.
Towards discharging the second charge, he said, the US is taking an approach that links security with trade, since private investment cannot thrive without safety, thus the US would not just help build military capacity for African nations, but also help build stability that underpins both African and American prosperity.
He thus cited instances in Gabon, of young students being enrolled in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and robotics programs; Algeria, of a youth robotics team applying technology for future challenges; Morocco, of 200 young cadets at the military academy being inspired; Botswana, of a medical station being supported; and Mauritania, Nigeria and Somalia, where young people are getting opportunities for prosperity to the future.
“AFRICOM’s goal is to deepen partnerships. It’s about the mutual goal of keeping our homeland safe, and it’s about long-term capacity, not dependence. It’s about empowering African nations to solve African problems, not just through hand-outs but through trusted cooperation”, he said.
Gen Langley, who is set to be replaced as US AFRICOM Commander, since his appointment in 2022, says US AFRICOM is leaning in with targeted training in advanced intelligence sharing, and to support institutions that endure long after exercises end or commanders rotate.
The following were his responses to questions from Journalists:
“What are the consequences of the US leaving Niger, and what alternative basing arrangements have been agreed to or are being pursued?”
Gen Langley said since the US military left Niger in September 2024, there have been a rise by both frequency and complexity, in attacks by violent extremist organizations, not only in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, but across the Sahel, and Nigeria.
With its withdrawal from the region, the ability to monitor these terrorist action groups closely, has been lost, he emphatically stated.
“How hopeful is General Langley that US AFRICOM’s efforts in Libya will lead to military reunification, and are there any considerations to redeploy US forces to Libya?”
The US Marine General stating that there is no discussion on troop movements, said there have been meetings with both sides in Libya, trying to find ways to get the country on the path of reunification, through the security construct first, with the hope to set the stage and conditions for a diplomatic process, as Senior Military Officers of both sides were invited to ACHOD 25.
“Can you offer your analysis on the latest series of major attacks in Nigeria and the Sahel, and do you see signs that the terrorist groups are cooperating more broadly?”
Gen Langley answered that the scale and brutality of some of the recent attacks in Nigeria and across the Sahel are deeply troubling, and with its withdrawal from the area, the setup has lost its ability to monitor terrorist attacks closely, except observing and sharing intelligence with Nigeria.
He also stated that the US seeks opportunities to collaborate with Burkina Faso on counterterrorism challenges, for which reason, its Chief of the Defence Staff was invited to ACHOD 25, to maintain dialogue.
He further stated that the US is still open on military resourcing and management of what external military support is received for the whole fight of terrorism across Burkina Faso, and to a dialogue that will be able to address the challenges of terrorism – which is the epicentre within the country.
“Why is US AFRICOM not helping Nigeria to combat Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as pirates in the Gulf of Guinea?”
He answered that the US has worked together to combat Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa, and has a long history of providing critical material and training support to Nigeria, which extends from military sales, excess defence articles, and also training to go along with foreign military sales, however, the former respects national sovereignty, and goes where they have been invited, as long as objectives aligns with US national security objectives.
“Assess the strength of ISIS Somalia and al-Shabaab in the wake of increase in US airstrikes under the Trump Administration.”
With Partner-led efforts supported by the US air strikes, Gen Langley said, US AFRICOM is working to degrade ISIS Somalia in their territorial control and across their leadership, to effectively hinder their ability to sustain a global network.
He asserted that US air strikes supporting Somali and African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia efforts against al-Shabaab – an entrenched, wealthy, and large al-Qaida group – who have been adapting and increasing their reliance on ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), have achieved tactical gains against al-Shabaab and al-Qaida groups.
He added however, that lasting success will require a comprehensive strategy, and addressing the root causes of instability in the security sector, which requires institution-building across the Somali National Army, and their whole of government.
ACHOD – a premier forum for military leaders from across the African continent to address pressing security challenges, had senior military leaders from over 37 African nations, participating in the Kenyan edition, which was focused on African-led solutions, regional cooperation, and long-term security strategies.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
