In the National Interest? Authoritarian Decision-making and the Problematic Creation of US Africa Command

Abstract

US Department of Defense change agents pursued transformation in creating US Africa Command and focused inwardly to win the bureaucratic struggle. In contrast, they did not bother to consult with African leaders and made assumptions about African reactions to AFRICOM, which demonstrated a lack of empathy. The authoritarian leadership style of Rumsfeld brought about the unworkable directive that AFRICOM headquarters should be placed on the African continent in less than two years. The directive was rejected by most African leaders and media. A subsequent ‘strategic communications’ campaign to repackage AFRICOM and sell it to African leaders failed because of already established suspicions. Only the reversal of the directive to place the command on the continent brought grudging acceptance, along with American offers of training, joint exercises, and other forms of security assistance. At issue is the viability of AFRICOM in the face of Congressional scrutiny and the possibility that the new command will not be fully funded. Members of Congress have not been convinced that AFRICOM will advance American national interest.