The U.S. supports partners in Africa using a "3D" approach - that is "Diplomacy, Development, and Defense." Whereas embassies use diplomacy and development to enable African governments, U.S. Africa Command helps those governments with "Defense." U.S. Africa Command supports African governments by helping build capacity in their armed forces, which are necessary for a government to counter violent extremists and respond to crisis. By providing security and safety for its people, African governments can assure citizens' access to education, work, and healthcare, to name a few. Our support to African armed forces includes training, exercises, equipment sales and several other security cooperation efforts to help develop militaries and build relationships. Each of these efforts emphasizes African militaries respect to civilian governments, the law of war, and human rights.

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. U.S. Africa Command employs the broad-reaching diplomacy, development, and defense approach to foster interagency efforts and help negate the drivers of conflict and extremism in Africa.

A full-spectrum combatant command, U.S. Africa Command is responsible for all U.S. Department of Defense operations, exercises, and security cooperation on the African continent, its island nations, and surrounding waters. The area of responsibility consists of 53 African states, more than 800 ethnic groups, over 1,000 languages, vast natural resources, a land mass of 11.2 million square miles (three-and-a-half times the size of the U.S.), and nearly 19,000 miles of coastland.

U.S. Africa Command began initial operations Oct. 1, 2007, and became fully operational Oct. 1, 2008.

The following link provides information on the History of U.S. Africa Command.

Mission

U.S. Africa Command, with partners, counters transnational threats and malign actors, strengthens security forces and responds to crises in order to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability and prosperity.

Personnel

U.S. Africa Command has approximately 2,000 assigned personnel, including military, U.S. federal civilian employees, and U.S. contractor employees. About 1,400 work at the command's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. Others are assigned to U.S. Africa Command units at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and RAF Molesworth, U.K. The command's programs in Africa are coordinated through Offices of Security Cooperation and Defense Attaché Offices in approximately 38 nations. The command also has liaison officers at key African posts, including the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre in Ghana.

U.S. Africa Command is part of a diverse interagency team that reflects the talents, expertise, and capabilities within the entire U.S. government. The command employs Senior Foreign Service officers in key positions as well as more than 30 personnel from more than 10 U.S. government departments and agencies, including the Departments of State and Homeland Security, and the U.S. Agency for International Development - the senior State Department official serves as the deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement. 

Interagency partners bring invaluable expertise to help the command ensure its plans and activities complement those of other U.S. government programs and fit within the context of U.S. foreign policy.

Location

U.S. Africa Command is located at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart-Möhringen, Germany.

Our Team

U.S. Africa Command’s components and subordinate units set the conditions for the success of security cooperation programs and activities on the continent. They perform detailed planning, provide essential command and control, establish and sustain positive relationships with African partners, and execute the bulk of the programs, exercises and activities directed by U.S. Africa Command.

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa - Operating from Vicenza, Italy, SETAF-AF conducts sustained security engagement with African land forces to promote security, stability and peace.

U.S. Naval Forces Africa - Headquartered in Naples, Italy, U.S. Naval Forces Africa's primary mission is to improve the maritime security capability and capacity of African partners. Personnel are shared with U.S. Naval Forces Europe.

U.S. Air Forces Africa - As the air component of U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Air Forces Africa conducts sustained security engagement and operations to promote air safety, security, and development in Africa. Located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, U.S. Air Forces Africa personnel are combined with U.S. Air Forces Europe 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa - Located in Stuttgart, Germany, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa conducts operations, exercises, training, and security cooperation activities throughout Africa. Its staff is shared U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe.

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa - Headquartered at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa is the U.S. Africa Command organization that conducts operations in the region to enhance partner nation capacity, promote regional security and stability, dissuade conflict, and protect U.S. and coalition interests.

U.S. Special Operations Command Africa - Co-located with U.S. Africa Command at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa aims to build operational capacity, strengthen regional security and capacity initiatives, and eradicate violent extremist organizations.

Contact us

To contact a directorate or staff agency by phone, please call Stuttgart Military Community Assistance:

DSN: 314.430.1110

Commercial: +49 (0)711.680.113