At Africa’s largest joint military training exercise with the US, Washington signaled a major shift in strategy: African allies must increasingly defend themselves. Moving away from its previous emphasis on good governance and tackling the root causes of insurgency, the US now promotes self-reliance among African militaries, even as insurgencies spread across the continent. General Michael Langley, commander of the US Africa Command, highlighted the need for “burden sharing.” He stated that the Trump administration has charged the US Defense Department with helping allies develop the capacity to handle their own security. However, critics warn that most African forces cannot fill the gap that a US retreat will leave. Meanwhile, US rivals – China and Russia – have sought to fill the gap and expand their influence across the continent, especially as violence surges in hotspots like the Sahel and Somalia.
AP
