Monday, August 19, 2013 - 13:49
United States Africa Command protects and defends the national security interests of the United States by strengthening the defense capabilities of African states and regional organizations and, when directed, conducts military operations, in order to deter and defeat transnational threats to provide a security environment conducive to good governance and development.
Monday, August 19, 2013 - 11:39
Thank you for writing to express your strong support for the Leahy laws and concern over calls
to weaken the Leahy vetting process. I strongly support the Leahy laws for precisely the reasons
you cited: They are an important mechanism for achieving our political, security, and human
rights goals. The Department of State employs a rigorous human rights vetting process pursuant
to the Leahy laws so assistance does not benefit individuals or units when there is credible
information of gross human rights violations.
Friday, August 16, 2013 - 12:05
On August 11, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, IRIN, published an article arguing that military training in Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot occur in the absence of larger security sector and governance reform. The piece,Can the DRC army stop abusing human rights?, contended “Stamping out human rights abuses by the army in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) entails more than classroom training sessions.”
Friday, August 16, 2013 - 11:51
Below is a roundup of some of the top articles and news highlights from around the MENA region over the last week:
U.S. Policy:
Friday, August 16, 2013 - 11:47
A round-up of some of the top articles and news highlights from around Central Eurasia over the last week:
Central Asia:
Friday, August 16, 2013 - 11:41
Marines and Sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13 recently completed a four-week logistics operations engagement with more than 80 Burundi National Defense Force soldiers in preparation for future deployments supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia, an active, regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union with the approval of the United Nations in Somalia.
Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 12:07
The annual multilateral Steppe Eagle military exercise in Kazakhstan began Saturday, August 10. The exercise, cosponsored by the United States and Kazakhstan, involves around 1,600 military personnel from eight countries – Kazakhstan, Britain, Italy, Lithuania, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the United States – and will last for about two weeks.
Monday, August 12, 2013 - 10:10
The Pentagon is considering a major overhaul of its geographical combatant commands, possibly realigning oversight within hot-button areas of the world and eliminating thousands of military and civilian positions, according to defense sources..
Thursday, August 8, 2013 - 12:15
* Note: This piece originally ran in US News & World Report on 08/08/2013. *
Wednesday, August 7, 2013 - 11:54
Gulf of Guinea nations held a planning conference July 23-25 to set in motion objectives and initial concepts for what will be the fourth iteration of Obangame Express, a multinational maritime exercise which is set to take place in spring 2014.
