WORLD BRIDGE BLOG

Today marks the launch of AFRICOM, the U.S. Africa Command that was created to consolidate and coordinate U.S. Security programs in Africa, but which could also lead to a greater militarization of aid on the continent. In July, Refugees International released a report that highlighted the disparity in funding between the Defense and State Departments. AFRICOM is just one example of how the Pentagon controls an increasing amount of foreign aid that used to be directed towards civilian agencies. Refugees International’s report noted that the percentage of Official Development Assistance that the Pentagon controls has skyrocketed from 3.5% to nearly 22% in the last decade. The percentage controlled by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) shrunk from 65% to 40%.

As Refugees International’s peacekeeping advocate, Erin Weir, told the Associated Press, “AFRICOM has become a lightning rod for a bigger concern, which is that U.S. foreign policy is being dictated almost entirely by the Department of Defense.”

There is a risk that AFRICOM will take over many humanitarian and development activities that soldiers aren’t trained to perform. Refugees International is calling on the next Administration to strengthen civilian agencies like the State Department so they can accomplish the kind of aid and development work they do best.

--Vanessa Parra

Labels: AFRICOM