Teammates: 2011 presents us with many opportunities to contribute to stability in support of our vital national interests in Africa. In the past year, African nations and regional organizations have been addressing political and security challenges in such places as Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, and Somalia, and in countering the threats posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army and al-Qa’ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb. In the coming year, we will continue to support African leadership in addressing shared security challenges, take advantage of opportunities, deepen our strategic partnerships regionally as well as bilaterally and with the African Union, and refine our focus in our security cooperation efforts, while also ensuring our military readiness. Our efforts rely on four key approaches: First, we must build on past successes and provide continuity in our programs to ensure sustained progress toward regional and continental security goals that reflect both U.S. interests and Africa's security vision. African leaders repeatedly tell us their security priorities include: The development of capable, accountable military forces that perform professionally and with integrity; Effective, legitimate, and professional security institutions at national and regional levels; A collective ability to dissuade, deter, and defeat transnational threats; Increased African leadership and participation in international peacekeeping. These goals reflect our emphasis on preventing conflict and enhancing regional stability to protect American lives and interests in Africa and in our homeland. Second, we will seek to further strengthen the unity of our efforts with other U.S. government agencies and, as appropriate, the international community. African challenges and opportunities are not -- and will never be -- purely military. Our military activities must support our nation’s foreign policy, and we will continue to carefully consider the interests and sensitivities of our partners. We welcome efforts to better integrate U.S. government, diplomacy, development, defense and intelligence efforts, and to better coordinate resources related to our national security, including in the areas of conflict prevention and crisis response. Third, we must continue to promote regional cooperation. Through military-to-military engagements, we will continue to support the African Union, to include strengthening the capabilities and interoperability of the African Standby Force and its sub-regional elements. When directed, we will support and facilitate regional responses to security, humanitarian, and disaster relief contingencies. Finally, we must serve as good stewards of our Nation's resources. While we remain committed to all of our regional partners, we will prioritize our activities based on robust assessments, develop new strategic concepts, and identify and implement efficiencies across our organization. In sustaining momentum, we need to be smart and versatile to apply the right resources at the right place and right time to get the job done. As we advance these priorities, we will continue to develop and integrate our capabilities to execute our full range of assigned missions to support and defend our Constitution and provide the security it guarantees to our Nation. Thank you for your service and may 2011 be another tremendously successful year for us all. GEN Kip Ward Commander, United States Africa Command