Trump admin mulls scaling back US Africa Command

The Trump administration is considering to eliminate US Africa Command (AFRICOM) as part of a broader Pentagon downsizing effort, according to US news broadcaster CNBC on Wednesday. 

The news outlet suggested that the proposal is under consideration, citing sources familiar with the plans, as US defence officials are reportedly already in favour of the change.  

Reports of downsizing US Africa Command follow President Donald Trump initiating a major overhaul of the Pentagon, dismissing top officers and planning to lay off thousands of civilian workers in an effort to align the US military with his priorities. 

Following Trump’s plans for a sweeping shakeup of the Pentagon, CNBC also reported that the latest proposed move involves making AFRICOM a subcommand of European Command.  

Supporters contend that moving AFRICOM under EUCOM would help simplify command structures and cut down on bureaucracy.

They also believe it could make it easier for the administration to withdraw US troops from certain areas in Africa, like Somalia.

Over the weekend, a series of attacks saw the Somali army, supported by allied clan militias, successfully repel a coordinated raid by the al-Shabaab extremist group in the south of the country, resulting in the deaths of more than 130 attackers. 

However, opponents have since reportedly argued that this would diminish US military influence in Africa, creating a space that could be filled by Russia and China.

The Pentagon has yet to respond publicly to these claims.  

One US official told CNBC that there are concerns the downsizing could reduce the overall influence of US operations in the region. 

Discussions on the reorganisation of AFRICOM have yet to be officially confirmed by the Pentagon. 

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently visited AFRICOM’s headquarters in Germany as part of a broader engagement that also included a stop at EUCOM. 

What is AFRICOM? 

On the AFRICOM website, the agency is described as working alongside its partners in countering “threats and malign actors, strengthens security forces, and responds to crises to advance US interests while promoting regional security, stability and prosperity”.

US Marine Corps General Michael Langley became the sixth commander of US Africa Command in August 2022 and was due to step down from the role this summer. 

Founded in 2007 and fully operational by October 1, 2008, AFRICOM oversees US military relations with 53 African nations. 

Around 2,000 personnel, including military, civilian, and contractors, are assigned to AFRICOM.  

Most are based at its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, with additional teams at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and RAF Molesworth in the UK. 

Unprecedented Pentagon shakeup 

Trump’s sudden firing of the nation’s top military officer, amidst a wave of Pentagon dismissals, sparked criticism but was not entirely unexpected, with concerns growing about the new administration’s apparent politicisation of the military.  

Defence Secretary Hegseth indicated that more firings could follow.  

During his campaign, Trump vowed to eliminate “woke” ideologies from the military, pledging to swiftly remove several high-ranking officers. 

Both Hegseth and Trump have been vocal about removing military leaders who support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 

 The dismissal of Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the second Black general to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was described by Hegseth as “honourable,” though he argued Brown was “not the right man for the moment,” without specifying any shortcomings.  

Brown’s involvement in addressing issues related to racial inequality, especially after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, made him a target in the Trump administration’s ongoing opposition to inclusion efforts in the military. 

His tenure, which coincided with the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, followed his 2020 nomination as Air Force chief of staff during Trump’s first term.