US Africa Command has outlined a five-year plan with five lines of effort aimed at building peace and security on the continent, according to a Jan. 5 release. First, the command is focused on neutralizing the al-Shabab terror threat in Somalia. Although the group “has been pushed out of most of the major populations,” an AFRICOM official said it “is not a spent force.” As part of this effort, US forces have helped train and equip the African Union Mission in Somalia, which is helping to stabilize the country, states the release. Second, AFRICOM is focused on the “failed state of Libya.” AFRICOM boss Army Gen. David Rodriguez told reporters in November that ISIS has taken advantage of the “chaos” that followed the ouster of former Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, noting at least six groups in and around Libya have pledged support to ISIS. Third, the command is focused on containing Boko Haram in West Africa, which has surpassed ISIS as “the most deadly terrorist group in the world,” according to a recent report from the Institute for Economics and Peace. Fourth, AFRICOM “will focus on disrupting illicit activity in the Gulf of Guinea and in Central Africa,” states the release. Finally, it looks to build African partners’ peacekeeping and disaster assistance capabilities. (Rodriguez Defense Writers Group transcript from November 2015.)
Airman 1st Class Marcus White-Allen concocted a story to cover up that he fired his M18 9mm pistol into Airman Braden Lovan’s chest, killing him on July 20, two Airmen from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., testified during separate courts martial proceedings on Oct. 30-31.
