The dynamics of us Aricom on Africa’s security challenges

Abstract

This research study discusses the topic US Africa Command and the dynamics it brings into Africa’s security challenges. It seeks to trace the extent to which Africa is saddled with complex security challenges that are both state centric and human related. These security challenges impede on Africa’s socio- economic development. Among the most inimical challenges are; civil wars, terrorism, rampant transnational crimes, poaching, and proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Pandemic diseases like HIV/AIDS, Ebola and malaria have also not spared the continent. The study looks at the political and economic dynamics of the US AFRICOM in Africa to try and determine if these may escalate Africa’s insecurity. An overview of the military industrial complex and regional security complexes is discussed to determine the real causes and dynamics to the security dilemma in Africa. The studyexplores a brief look at China’s role in Africa and the extent to which both America and China are entangled in a hegemonic war that is likely to erupt in Africa. The study uses to some extent the AU peace and security architecture to explore Africa’s preparedness to tackle security challenges and as an early warning mechanism for outbreaks of conflict.In the main, the study argues that a hegemonic war between the US and China is the real security challenge with a possibility of erupting in Africa rather than the AFRICOM per se.