Africa Center for Strategic Studies Co-Sponsors 5th U.S. Africa Command Academic Symposium

U.S Ambassador to Tanzania Alfonso E Lenhardt (seated third from right), Commander of U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM) General Carter F Ham (seated third from left) and Chief of Planning and Development of the Tanzania Peoples' Defense Forces Major General Leonard Mndeme (seated second from right) with organizers and participants of the 5th U.S. Africa Command Academic Symposium after officiating the symposium in Dar es Salaam on July 10, 2012. The symposium, has brought together 45 academic professionals with expertise in African security-related subjects from Africa, Europe, and the United States aims at soliciting input and engaging in dialogue on how the U.S. military can best support peace and stability on the African continent, as well as to increase understanding of the U.S. Africa Command and the role of the U.S. military in Africa among academic communities that work in and with Africa.

In partnership with the U.S. Embassy of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the Washington, D.C.,-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) and the Germany-based U.S. Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) are co-hosting the 5th U.S. Africa Command Academic Symposium in Dar es Salaam July 9-12, 2012. Approximately 45 academic professionals from Africa, Europe, and the United States – with expertise in African security-related subjects – are scheduled to attend the symposium.

 The goals of the event include soliciting input and engaging in dialogue on how the U.S. military can best support peace and stability on the African continent, as well as to increase understanding of the U.S. Africa Command and the role of the U.S. military in Africa among academic communities that work in and with Africa.

The U.S. AFRICOM Commander General Carter Ham said, "I think it is important to have this dialogue and for us military personnel to listen, to learn, to widen our thinking, and to look at problem solving from a non-military perspective. And that’s what this audience provides."

Major General Leonard Mndeme of the Tanzania Peoples' Defense Forces who also spoke at the ceremony said, “I believe the symposium will enhance our ability to cooperate on shared security challenges. We are all in this together.”

Under the theme “African Perspectives and the Africa Security Environment: Challenges and Opportunities,” the symposium seeks to engage academic professionals whose expertise includes history, political science, security studies, civil-military relations and conflict management.

 Participants will assess U.S. Africa Command’s support of democratic civil-military relations in Africa and discuss challenges to the Command in building security sector capacity on the continent. 

There will also be a session on how the African Union is responding to challenges in Somalia, as well as discussion of cooperation between the U.S. military and the academic community on countering violent extremism in East Africa.

The academic symposium will build upon previous engagements with the African academic communities. Previous symposia included: June 2008 in Leesburg, Virginia; August 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; April 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany; and July 2010 in Dakar, Senegal.

 This symposium is also consistent with the U.S. government’s policy and ongoing efforts to work with African nations and regional organizations as they enhance security and stability in the region.

For information about Africa Command, please visit www.africom.mil

For information about Africa Center programs, please visit www.africacenter.org