Not on parade

The planned new military headquarters will stay in Europe because of the widespread hostility to it in Africa

Washington officials had hoped that their new African military headquarters would be (where else?) in Africa. The Africa Command (Africom) would, they said, help the fight against Islamism, defend economic interests (meaning oil) and offer kit and training to African armies. Yet on the eve of President George Bush's trip to Africa (see Analysis) it was announced that the headquarters would stay put in Stuttgart, Germany, alongside the HQ for Europe. No suitable African country wanted to play host to about 1,000 US personnel when the new command becomes operational on 1 October.

Article Tags:
George Bush, Germany, China, Kenya, Tanzania, Liberia, Hits and Misses, Djibouti, Somalia, Malian, Africa Confidential, Al Qaida

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