In a direct bid to solidify African-led solutions to regional threats and unlock long-term economic opportunity, senior U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) leaders have wrapped up a landmark visit to Angola and Namibia, pledging deeper security cooperation, economic partnership, and maritime defense support in Southern Africa.
“Security is security. It’s preventative,” said Lt. Gen. John W. Brennan, Deputy Commander of AFRICOM, during a digital press briefing on July 28.
“We want to keep Namibia and Angola free of threats… and prepare them for future challenges through training, equipping, and partnerships.”
Joined by Ambassador Robert Scott, AFRICOM’s Deputy for Civil-Military Engagement, the U.S. delegation emphasized that its engagements in both countries are part of a larger U.S. pivot toward cost-effective, African-led solutions that reinforce local agency while limiting direct American military footprint.
“Every exercise that we execute is African-led, partner-led, and ally-enabled,”
Brennan said, drawing a clear contrast with the more interventionist approaches of China and Russia.
“Our focus is on empowering—not replacing—Africa’s own institutions.”
From Ports to Protection: Maritime Security and Trade
The trip highlighted integrated security and economic efforts underway in both nations, particularly around ports and strategic corridors like Walvis Bay in Namibia and the Lobito Corridor in Angola. Both serve as critical arteries for intra-African trade and international investment.
“Security is tightly interlocked with prosperity and development,” said Ambassador Scott.
“In Angola, the time to transport goods from the DRC border to Lobito Port has dropped from 28 days to just 7. That’s transformational.”
AFRICOM is supporting maritime domain awareness initiatives in Angola, including the SeaVision platform, which enables navies and coast guards to track and identify vessels off their coasts in real-time.
Exercises like Obangame Express, which operate under Africa’s Yaoundé Code of Conduct, were cited as examples of how U.S.-Africa cooperation reinforces African-led security frameworks.
“This year’s Obangame Express was designed around African-created structures,” Scott explained.
“We’re not imposing a framework—we’re supporting what Africans have already built.”
Building a Broader Security and Investment Ecosystem
Beyond tactical training, the U.S. visit focused on long-term frameworks such as the State Partnership Program, which now links Angola with the Ohio National Guard. These partnerships extend beyond military-to-military cooperation, enabling broader institutional, educational, and industrial exchanges.
“Security begets investment,” Brennan said.
“Lower risk attracts American companies, and we’re seeing real momentum—especially with the Development Finance Corporation and Office of Strategic Capital ramping up investment in African firms.”
The U.S. is backing a $1 billion Sun Africa solar energy project in Angola, financed by the U.S. Export-Import Bank, as well as infrastructure initiatives like 185 Acrow Bridges and new grain silos aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and boosting agricultural trade.
“It’s all part of a big ecosystem,” Scott noted.
“Security enables development, and development reinforces peace.”
SADC and Beyond: Expanding U.S. Reach Across Southern Africa
AFRICOM reaffirmed its growing cooperation with members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique already playing significant roles in U.S.-backed military exercises and anti-trafficking efforts.
“Our regional strategy is simple: more engagement, more training, more exercises,” Brennan said.
“We’re expanding our partner base while also bringing in allies from across the globe—from India and Japan to Brazil.”
Brennan confirmed that U.S. assistance had recently enabled Mozambique to seize $8 million worth of narcotics off its coast—underscoring how U.S. capacity-building contributes directly to regional law enforcement.
Countering Disinformation and Jihadist Threats
On the question of Western military disengagement across parts of Africa, Brennan was blunt:
“We’re not leaving—we’re evolving. We’re building our partners’ capacity so they can handle threats themselves,” he said, particularly referencing jihadist activity in Mozambique, South Africa, and the wider West African coast.
AFRICOM is also confronting a wave of disinformation campaigns led by Russia’s Africa Corps, which Brennan described as “malign actors spending billions on social media propaganda.”
“We counter it with the truth,” he said. “We may not outspend them, but we outpartner them.”
Somalia: The Biggest Investment
Despite the Angola and Namibia focus, officials stressed that East Africa—especially Somalia—remains AFRICOM’s top priority.
“It’s our main effort,” Brennan said.
“We’ve trained Somali special forces like the Danab, and now the Somali government is taking over their salaries and command responsibilities. That’s success.”
He added that new White House-authorized engagement rules have given AFRICOM more authority to assist Somali partners with targeted fire support against ISIS and al-Shabaab.
A Future Rooted in Partnership
Both officials closed by emphasizing that AFRICOM’s approach is collaborative, not coercive.
“We are not here to dictate. We are here to support,” said Ambassador Scott.
“And we’re seeing a rising tide of African ownership in both the security and development space.”
The message was clear: Africa’s future will be built by Africans—but the U.S. intends to be a steady and respectful partner along the way.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
