United States Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley visited Djibouti, Somalia, and Manda Bay, Kenya, August 28-31, 2022 on his first trip to Africa since taking command of U.S. Africa Command on August 9, 2022. (Credit: africom.mil)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
The new commander of U.S. Africa Command Gen. Michael Langley hit the ground running last week on his first visit to Africa since taking over as boss of AFRICOM. On August 9, 2022, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Langley became AFRICOM’s sixth commander since the command was established in 2008. Gen. Langley visited Djibouti, Somalia, and Manda Bay, Kenya, August 28-31. During the four-day visit, Langley visited with host nation leaders, senior State Department and defense officials, and deployed troops to better understand the political and military situation in East Africa, discuss shared concerns and priorities, and see ongoing operations firsthand, AFRICOM said in a statement. While in Somalia, Langley met leaders and troops at operational sites across the country to witness ongoing training efforts, and assess security and force protection measures. The AFRICOM chief also met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Minister of Defense Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, to discuss shared priorities and operations, such as the command’s shared fight against Al-Shabaab. U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, is one of 11 U.S. Department of Defense combatant commands, each with a geographic or functional mission that provides command and control of military forces in peace and war.
Lt. Gen. Langley To Lead U.S. AFRICOM At A Critical Time
Langley will lead U.S. AFRICOM at a very critical time. The security situation in East Africa has been on a downward trajectory following the previous administration’s decision to withdraw the majority of U.S. military personnel from Somalia in December 2020.
U.S. AFRICOM Commander meets with Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud with Amb. Larry André, U.S. Embassy in Somalia on Aug. 29, 2022 (Credit: africom.mil)
“The United States supports the Somali government and its people. We are committed to working together to advance our mutual prosperity for our countries. I appreciate Somalia’s efforts in the fight against Al-Shabaab and look forward to continued partnership between our two militaries”
-Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. AFRICOM
Militant Islamist Violence in Africa Surges
Since the withdraw of military personnel from Somalia in 2020, U.S. forces have been conducting periodic engagements to train and advise Somali partners, but U.S. and partner efforts to disrupt and degrade al-Shabaab have not achieved the desired success. Militant Islamist violence in Africa has risen continuously over the past decade, doubling in just the past 3 years, according to a recent report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Roughly 95 percent of the increase in militant Islamist violence on the continent since 2019 comes from two theaters—the western Sahel and Somalia, the ACSS reports. Fatalities linked to militant Islamist groups have also been on the rise, reaching 14,635 in the past year—a nearly 50-percent increase since 2019.
Al Shabaab was linked to 36 percent of all militant Islamist group violence recorded on the African continent this past year.
Gen. Langley, commander U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, and Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, AFRICOM senior enlisted advisor, assess security and force protection measures at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya, on Aug. 30, 2022 (Credit africom.mil)
Gen. Langley visits U.S. Forces at Camp Lemonnier -Djibouti Horn of Africa
The Honorable Jonathan Pratt, U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, greets Gen. Langley, commander of AFRICOM as he arrives at Camp Lemonnier Aug. 28, 2022 (Credit: africom.mil)
In Djibouti, Langley met with leaders discuss the variety of missions that stage out of Camp Lemonnier. He also met with President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and Minster of Foreign Affairs Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and discussed how to strengthen the “already strong” U.S.-Djiboutian relationship.
“The United States is grateful for the leadership Djibouti has shown through its contributions to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and the gracious hospitality the Djiboutians show to our troops. I look forward to continuing to foster our enduring, strong and cooperative relationship.”
-Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. AFRICOM
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David Francis, director of operations for U.S. Africa Command; U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Africa Command; U.S. Gen. Langley, commander of U.S. AFRICOM; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, and U.S. Airforce Chief Master Sgt. James P. Colon, command senior enlisted leader of CJTF-HOA, pose for photo Aug. 28, 2022 during part of four-day trip to Africa. (Credit: africom.mil)
At Manda Bay, Kenya, Gen. Langley met with the U.S. Ambassador, senior defense leaders stationed at the U.S. Embassy, and leaders from the base to assess security and force protection measures.
Langley Is The First Black Four-Star Marine General in 246 years
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III passes the U.S. Africa Command guidon to Lt. Gen. Michael Langley, incoming commander of AFRICOM, during a Change of Command Ceremony in Stuttgart, German Aug. 09, 2022. Langley became the sixth commander since the command was established in 2008. (Credit: Africom.mil)
Langley was confirmed as a general in August, making history as the first Black four-star Marine general in 246 years. Lt. Gen. Langley will command all U.S. military forces in Africa from AFRICOM’s headquarters in Stuttgart.
