Change of guard at AFRICOM as General Anderson assumes command
AFRICOM is one of seven US geographic combatant commands, responsible for military engagement across 53 African countries.
General Dagvin Anderson has officially kicked off his tenure as the head of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) following a change of command ceremony held at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany.
General Anderson, the first Air Force General to lead the command, takes over from Marine Corps General Michael Langley, who is set to proceed on retirement after more than four decades of distinguished service, having led AFRICOM through complex global challenges and expanded engagement with African partners.
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Langley assumed command in August 2022 from General Stephen Townsend.
"We come up with solutions, African-led solutions. That's what AFRICOM is about. This is a bittersweet opportunity, giving up this great command, but I pass it on to a great man...Dag, this team will not disappoint. You will take them to the next level," Gen Langley told his successor.
AFRICOM is one of seven US geographic combatant commands, responsible for military engagement across 53 African countries, including in Somalia, where it is actively engaged in counter terrorism operations in collaboration with the Somali National Forces.
"The command continues to support African-led security solutions, enhance readiness, and build partner capacity across the continent to counter shared threats and promote regional stability," a dispatch from AFRICOM noted.
Navy Admiral Christopher Grady, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over the ceremony and noted that the region covered by AFRICOM has a rapidly growing economy and a young population that offers a democratic dividend.
"Meanwhile, militarily, the theatre is a nexus where global competitors test our resolve, where violent extremist organisations seek sanctuary. And where instability ripples far beyond the continent. By working side by side with our African partners, we learn from them and help them strengthen their defences," he said.
This will not be Gen Anderson's first time at the command, having served as the lead Special Operations Command, a component of AFRICOM responsible for special operations activities in Africa.
"I am not new to the challenges of Africa and I am incredibly familiar with the rising threats around the world that are vying for influence on the continent, seeking to destabilise and undo the world order that we enjoy [while undermining] the way of life that we all defend," said Gen Anderson.
Focus now shifts to his tenure, and what AFRICOM's engagement will look like, especially in Counter Terrorism operations in Somalia, following his earlier declaration that he will evaluate what form US Support for counter terrorism efforts in Somalia will take.
Two weeks ago, he told the US Senate that he will evaluate whether AFRICOM's engagement in the region should focus on the Federal Government or the federal member states.
"I think it is in our interests to have some level of engagement in that region. Whether that is with the Federal Government or the member states, I think that is something I would have to assess if confirmed," he had earlier said.
In Stuttgart, Langley, alongside Kenya's Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri, released the inaugural Joint Communiqué from the African Chiefs of Defence Conference (ACHOD), to guide military engagement, innovation, and institutional reforms over the next year.
During the meeting, Gen Kahariri expressed concern over the recent drawdown of troops under the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), warning that it could undermine years of progress.
"While noting that some Troop Contributing Countries, including Kenya, have entered bilateral arrangements with Somalia to temporarily bridge the gap, he stressed that such measures are unsustainable without enhanced international backing. He urged the global community to renew and strengthen its commitment to the Somali peace process and broader Horn of Africa stability efforts," a media dispatch by the KDF stated.
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