Africa Center for Strategic Studies

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies’ latest Africa Security Brief by Zachary Devlin-Foltz highlights the increased leverage that fragile African states create for Islamist extremists. The security vacuum that emerges in such contexts provides extremists an opening in their on-going struggle with moderates for influence. Underscoring this pattern, 12 of the world’s top 20 “high-risk” fragile states are in Africa. Many of these also face challenges from extremists. It is this strong overlap, Devlin Foltz contends, that requires counter-extremism and counter-terrorism strategies to also focus on building stronger states if they are to be effective. The Africa Center’s Research Director, Dr. Joseph Siegle, said: “This Africa Security Brief assesses the threat of extremism from the lens of state fragility--the context in which extremists find most fertile ground. By so doing, the Brief provides insights and guidance for the priority of shoring up Africa's fragile states--and marginalizing extremists.” Zachary Devlin-Foltz is an independent scholar whose research has focused on al-Qaeda's influence in Africa, political persecution in Ethiopia, and civil society development in Egypt. He is co-author with Binnur Ozkececi-Taner of “State Collapse and Islamist Extremism: Reevaluating the Link,” which was published in Contemporary Security Policy (April 2010). [PDF]

The differences between control over the military and police in the U.S. and what takes place in other parts of the world are so distinct that most Americans take them for granted. Building on our tradition of subordination of the military and police operations to civilian rule is a new concept in many parts of Africa. At least that is the perspective in some African countries, according to 11 African journalists who recently visited the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. The journalists, all from independent media in their respective countries and guests of the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Press Center, were invited to the U.S. to examine the differences between the military and civilian law enforcement authorities. Collectively, the journalists serve an audience of more than 110 million people ranging from the 50 million listeners who tune in daily to Radio Lagos in Nigeria to the 20,000 readers of the Cameroon Tribune. Other countries represented by the journalists included Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.), Africa Center Director, and Dr. John F. Kelly, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, briefed the journalists, explaining that in the U.S. on the rare occasions when the military does the job of the police, it is due to an extraordinary breakdown in the system, such as in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Louisiana. The insightful questions from the seasoned and dynamic group of African journalists resulted in an engaging dialog with the Africa Center faculty including Academic Dean Dr. Monde Muyangwa, Academic Chair for Defense Economics Dr. Assis Malaquias, Director of Research Dr. Joseph Siegle, Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations Dr. Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, and Senior Fellow for Security and Development Katherine Almquist. Also joining the discussion was Ambassador Joyce Barr, Acting Commandant, Industrial College of the Armed Forces at National Defense University. After the briefing, the journalists toured the NDU campus and library. In addition to their visit to the Africa Center and NDU, the journalists’ U.S. travels also took them to Baltimore and New Orleans.

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The students, who will be attending the National War College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the College of International Security Affairs, represent Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Lesotho, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zambia.

Africa Center Director Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.) and Deputy Director Michael Garrison welcomed the students, with Ambassador Bellamy answering the students’ questions about the Center’s mission, academic and outreach programs, and U.S. foreign policy towards Africa. Michelle Cavalcanti of the Center’s Community Outreach and Public Affairs staff orchestrated the students’ visit.

Also on hand to meet the students, briefly explain their individual responsibilities at the Africa Center, and answer questions were faculty and staff members to include:  Dr. John Kelly, Associate Dean; Katherine J. Almquist, Senior Fellow, Security and Development; Colonel Xavier Collignon, Senior French Representative; Dr. Matt Houngnikpo, Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations; Dr. Assis Malaquias, Chair for Defense Economics; and Dr. Joseph Siegle, Director of Research.

Following the students’ year of study at National Defense University, they can become Africa Center community members if they decide to do so. They also will be invited during the year to attend Africa Center events like openings, receptions, and panel discussions. The Africa Center community is a global network of professionals who have participated in various Africa Center programs and affords them an opportunity to reinforce the long-term and mutually rewarding relationships between the Africa Center and its community throughout the world.

U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Barbara J. Faulkenberry, the newly-appointed Deputy Director for Logistics at U.S. Africa Command, visited the Africa Center for Strategic Studies on Aug. 13.

General Faulkenberry met with the Africa Center’s Director, Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.), followed by Deputy Director Michael Garrison briefing the General about the Center’s mission, academic and outreach programs, research efforts, and program support to AFRICOM.

Also present during the briefing to help answer General Faulkenberry’s questions was Dr. John Kelly, Associate Dean. Other Africa Center staff present were U.S. Army Colonel Tim Thurston, Acting Director of Resource Management; Ronald Gacke, Information Management Officer; Shearon Jackson, Lead Budget Analyst; and John Oliver, Management Analyst.

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies supported the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in a four-day African Defense Joint Warrant Officer/Sergeant Major Symposium in Washington, D.C., on August 2-5. The objectives of the symposium were to present an introduction to key issues useful to senior African warrant officers/sergeants major operating at the Defense Force level and to broaden their horizons about supporting strategic security operations. The participants represented militaries from Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Djibouti, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. According to John Kelly, Ph.D., Associate Dean at the Africa Center and faculty lead for the symposium, the goals of the symposium were to familiarize African enlisted leadership with U.S. policy towards Africa, provide a brief overview of the U.S. Department of Defense and its policies and programs in Africa, and to discuss the role played by U.S. noncommissioned officers within the U.S. force structure. The symposium also provided an opportunity for dialogue and discussion on African security issues. The Africa Center hosted the first two days of the four-day event. Guest speakers, plenary sessions, and open discussion groups focused on challenges in Africa, U.S. policy towards Africa, health and readiness, peacekeeping issues, civil-military relations, counter-narcotics, and counterterrorism. Two days were also devoted to a visit to the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia, and an orientation of Washington, D.C., including a visit to the Pentagon. AFRICOM’s Command Sergeant Major Mark S. Ripka and several members of his staff worked closely with Africa Center faculty and staff in planning and delivering symposium content. At the closing ceremony held at the Pentagon, Michael C.H. McDaniel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Homeland Defense (HD) Strategy, Prevention & Mission Assurance, presented each participant with a certificate and commemorative Defense Department coin.

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The Africa Center for Strategic Studies recently welcomed to its staff Bradley G. Anderson, the new Regional Program Manager of its East Africa Regional Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr. Anderson, a recently-retired U.S. Army colonel, brings to the position 30 years experience in management, policy development, peacekeeping, and operations including more than a decade of African political and military affairs experience.

Working with the Africa Center’s staff located at National Defense University in Washington, D.C., the Addis Ababa team strives to bring African leaders together to create and maintain a global network of professionals with a shared commitment to addressing security-related challenges in Africa. The East Africa Regional Office team also provides operational support for various topical programs held across the continent that allow participants to examine complex issues and seek African solutions.

Prior to joining the Africa Center, Mr. Anderson was the Defense and Army Attaché for Ethiopia and Djibouti (non-resident). He also served several tours in Tunisia and Morocco. While on active duty, Mr. Anderson earned more than two dozen awards from the U.S. Departments of Defense and State. In addition, he is the only U.S. Defense Attaché to Tunis to have been awarded the Chevalier de l’ordre du la Republique by the Tunisian President.

Mr. Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Upper Iowa University, a master’s degree in political science from the University of Iowa, and a master in business administration from Webster College. Mr. Anderson is a graduate of the Air Defense Artillery Officer’s Basic and Advance Courses; I-HAWK Transition Course; John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and the School’s Foreign Area Officer Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Defense Language Institute at Monterey, California (French); Combined Arms and Services Staff School; Command and General Staff College; and the Joint Military Attaché School.

Shortly prior to his retirement from the U.S. Army and becoming the new Regional Program Manager of the Africa Center's East Africa Regional Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Bradley G. Anderson, center, meets with General William E. Ward, Commander, U.S. Africa Command.

Dr. Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies’ Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations, was a recent guest on France24 TV’s International News, where he discussed Rwandan President Paul Kagame securing a second seven-year term.

 

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“Guarding the Guardians: Civil-Military Relations and Democratic Governance in Africa” is the latest must-read book by Dr. Mathurin C. Houngnikpo the Africa Center for Strategic Studies’ Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations. “Guarding the Guardians” explores the crucial link between civil-military relations and democratization in Africa. Most African states have fallen under military rule at some point and the military often plays a volatile role in African politics.

Drawing on his many years of studying the issue—one that has taken on renewed importance in Africa in recent years as a result of a spate of coups--Dr. Houngnikpo takes a critical look at the limited progress many African countries have made toward stable civil-military relations. He argues that until African militaries accept core democratic principles regulating civilian authority over the military, democratic gains on the continent will remain tenuous. Dr. Houngnikpo delves into the conceptual and theoretical issues surrounding civil-military relations in Africa and explains why military intrusion into African politics remains an ongoing debate. Other topics examined include the African military and modernization, and a comparative assessment of civilian and military regimes in Africa. The book provides an insightful historical review of the ideological rationale for military interventions in African politics as well as the devastating consequences military rule has brought the continent. “Guarding the Guardians” concludes with some priority reforms required to build stable democratic institutions that can ensure democratic civil-military accountability in Africa. For more information

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Africa Program has released its report from the meeting of the 10th French-American Defense Symposium held near Paris, France, on Apr. 8-10, 2010. Richard Downie, a CSIS Africa Program fellow, authored the report entitled “Security and Stability in Africa in the Twenty-First Century.” The symposium afforded a forum for U.S. and French military officials and civilian policymakers and analysts to exchange ideas about the nature of the security challenge in Africa in the 21st Century, share information about current strategies of engagement, and explore areas for more effective cooperation between the U.S. and France. Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.) represented the Africa Center at the symposium. In collaboration with CSIS and the other symposium sponsors—the French-American Foundation and the Institute of International and Strategic Relations—the Africa Center was a proud contributor to the final report. [PDF]

Clifford H. Bernath, ACSS Director of Community Outreach and Public Affairs (COPA), is leaving the Africa Center on 30 July, 2010. He is returning to the Pentagon after six years at the center. The Africa Center team said farewell to Cliff on Thursday, July 22, 2010. Under the shade of the trees next to the main ACSS building, Bernath spoke of the relevance of ACSS programs and his love for Africa, “ACSS is important to the United States because we offer unique and long-term engagement in Africa. We engage academically and we engage personally and we engage consistently. We are a positive force for goodwill among African government and opinion leaders. I believe we make a difference.” Bernath began his assignment at ACSS as a Senior Fellow in the Academic Affairs directorate in April 2004. Among his achievements there were the establishment and leading of two academic programs: “Introduction to African Security Issues” and the “African Defense Attaché Course.” Both remain popular courses at the Africa Center. He was appointed as COPA Director of in April 2007. Bernath said that his last 3 years at ACSS were the most fulfilling of his entire career. Under his leadership, the Africa Center began an aggressive outreach campaign in Africa. In support of that campaign, Bernath launched one of the center’s signature projects, the Topical Outreach Program Series (TOPS). Since July 2007, the Africa Center has conducted 58 TOPS programs in 28 African countries. More than 5,000 African, U.S. and European leaders have participated in TOPS events. Bernath led most of the TOPS visits to Africa and was the primary speaker in a majority of the topical programs presented. He noted that for him everything begins and ends with people, in this case the COPA staff. “I’ve always seen my role in COPA as that of a director – like a musical director,” he said. “Everyone knows how to play their instrument. Everyone wants to play their instrument. My role is to harmonize their efforts – to help produce the music of outreach and public affairs.” He credited the entire ACSS staff for their work ethic, dedication to Africa and Africa-U.S. relations and for their significant achievements. Of the COPA team, he said “I love the way we can work hard and still find ways to have fun and find humor in our challenges. I love the way we can disagree and move on. And I love what we have come to embrace, even though we can’t define it, as our ‘quirkiness.’ I will forever be grateful for being a COPA-ite and a member of the ACSS family.” Bernath is a retired Army officer who served as an infantry captain in Vietnam. He is a career Senior Executive Service (SES) employee with the Department of Defense and a former Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University. View photos from this event