US Africa command advises against withdrawing troops from the region

|Published 12:20 PM ET, Sunday April 06, 2025|

​General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), recently emphasized the strategic importance of maintaining U.S. military presence in Africa. In his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Langley highlighted that Africa serves as a critical nexus for countering terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda, which, if left unchecked, could pose direct threats to the U.S. homeland. ​

“Africa remains a nexus theatre from which the United States cannot shift its gaze. It is home to terrorists who take advantage of conditions in Africa to grow and export their ideology,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He also pointed out the activities of global competitors on the continent, noting that the Chinese Communist Party seeks to alter the international rules-based order to become a global hegemon, while the Russian Federation exploits chaos and instability for its gain. General Langley stressed the necessity of deterring these nations and their malign actors from achieving their objectives in Africa. ​

“It is where the Chinese Communist Party actively works to change international rules-based order as a stepping stone to become the global hegemon. And it’s where the Russian Federation seizes opportunities created by chaos and instability,” he said.

“We must deter these nations and their malign actors from their goals,” Langley added.

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To enhance regional stability and security, AFRICOM engages in various initiatives, including security cooperation programs and joint military exercises such as FLINTLOCK, AFRICAN LION, and OBANGAME EXPRESS. These efforts aim to build operational independence among African partners and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships across all domains. ​

The recent withdrawal of U.S. and French troops from Africa’s Sahel region has led to increased instability and a rise in extremist groups. General Langley noted that the number of extremist organizations has grown across the region, now threatening coastal West Africa. ​

Given these developments, General Langley advocates for sustained U.S. military engagement in Africa to safeguard national interests and support regional allies in countering emerging threats.

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