Caaqil News - The commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Michael Langley, has urged African countries—including Somalia—to take full responsibility for securing their own territories, as the U.S. government moves to scale back its long-standing military aid to the continent.
This major policy shift was announced during General Langley's speech to reporters on the sidelines of the African Chiefs of Defense Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday. His remarks mark a significant turning point in how the U.S. intends to engage with African partners on issues of security, terrorism, and regional stability.
“We May Not Do What We Used to Anymore”
General Langley delivered a clear message: Washington will no longer shoulder the burden of security for African nations. He stated that while the U.S. has historically played a leading role in military support, logistics, and intelligence across Africa, that era is drawing to a close.
Things we used to do—we might not do them anymore,” Langley told journalists in Nairobi.
He emphasized the need for African governments to assume the primary role in defending their nations, calling for a shift from dependency to self-reliance.
We’re asking you to take action and share the responsibility with us,” he added.
His remarks come amid growing concerns in Washington over rising global security challenges, budgetary constraints, and a strategic pivot toward great power competition with China and Russia.
Al-Shabaab Exploiting Security Gaps
General Langley specifically warned that extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia are already taking advantage of the security vacuum created by reduced U.S. assistance. He said these militant groups are expanding their influence by building parallel administrations in areas beyond the control of national governments.
These terrorist organizations are seeking to exploit the gaps,” Langley said, “and are actively setting up shadow governance in rural and ungoverned spaces.”
In Somalia, Al-Shabaab has long held sway in vast parts of the countryside. U.S. support—particularly in the form of airstrikes, training of elite Somali units like Danab, and intelligence-sharing—has been instrumental in containing the group. But with the scaling down of this support, analysts fear that Somalia's fragile security gains may unravel.
U.S. Will Focus on Intelligence, Joint Training
Despite the reduction in direct military aid and operations, AFRICOM will continue offering limited support, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, and targeted training.
However, Langley made it clear that future support will be conditional—based on mutual interests and the existence of competent local leadership capable of addressing domestic threats independently.
The support we provide moving forward will depend on whether the partner nations have the leadership and commitment to handle their own challenges,” he said.
This approach signals a more transactional and pragmatic U.S. foreign policy—offering help only to nations that demonstrate real progress toward self-sufficiency.
China Expanding Its Influence in Africa
Langley’s remarks come as China aggressively expands its presence on the African continent. In contrast to the U.S., Beijing has significantly increased its military cooperation, economic investments, and training programs for African countries.
In recent years, China has not only built infrastructure projects but also provided security equipment, strategic loans, and military training. According to reports, the Chinese military has even established bases and intelligence facilities, including the large naval base in Djibouti, close to the U.S. military installation.
Observers say China's engagement is less conditional and more focused on long-term partnerships, making it an attractive option for many African nations looking to diversify their security alliances.
Somalia Faces Tough Choices
Of all the countries affected by the shift in U.S. policy, Somalia may be among the most vulnerable. The Horn of Africa nation has relied heavily on U.S. support in its war against Al-Shabaab. American drones have routinely carried out precision airstrikes targeting militant leaders, while elite Somali forces trained by the U.S. have played critical roles in ground operations.
Now, with the reduction in military support, the Somali government is under immense pressure to build a self-sufficient national army capable of confronting Al-Shabaab without external help.
In recent years, Somali leaders have made promises to increase domestic security capacity, but progress has been slow, hindered by internal political disputes, limited financial resources, and ongoing corruption in the security sector.
African Governments Criticized for Overreliance
Langley’s statements also reflect frustration with what some in Washington perceive as overdependence by African governments on foreign military aid. Critics argue that many African nations have failed to develop independent security frameworks, relying instead on U.S. and European troops to do the heavy lifting.
This has led to long-term foreign deployments in places like the Sahel, Somalia, and the Great Lakes region, without clear exit strategies or substantial improvement in local governance and military effectiveness.
A recent analysis of African defense strategies reveals that many countries still lack comprehensive counterterrorism plans, rely on outdated military doctrines, and suffer from poor coordination between military and civilian institutions.
Security Experts Call for Urgent Reforms
Security analysts are calling for urgent reforms in African military and governance institutions to adapt to the changing global landscape. Without robust and self-reliant national security structures, experts warn that countries like Somalia, Mali, and Burkina Faso could fall deeper into chaos.
African states must understand that the age of unconditional foreign assistance is over,” said Dr. Stephen Mbeki, a security analyst based in Nairobi. “If they don’t act now, the next wave of instability could be far more devastating.”
Mbeki emphasized that building local capabilities, rooting out corruption, and strengthening rule of law should be the new focus for African defense ministries.
Regional Rivalries May Fill the Void
Another concern raised by geopolitical observers is that the vacuum left by the U.S. could be filled by regional powers such as China, Russia, or even Turkey—each of whom has strategic interests in Africa.
For instance, Turkey has a strong military footprint in Somalia, where it operates training centers and funds development projects. Meanwhile, Russia has forged military alliances with governments in Sudan, Mali, and Central African Republic, often in exchange for access to natural resources and strategic influence.
While such partnerships may offer short-term benefits, they often come with long-term geopolitical strings attached, raising fears of new proxy conflicts and neo-colonial dynamics.
Conclusion: Africa Must Chart Its Own Security Future
The message from AFRICOM is clear: African nations must take ownership of their security and defense. The era of heavy U.S. military intervention is fading, replaced by a model that demands local initiative, leadership, and accountability.
In Somalia, this means accelerating efforts to train and equip a national army, while addressing deep-rooted governance issues that have allowed Al-Shabaab to thrive. For the broader continent, it means creating unified regional strategies, investing in local intelligence, and ensuring that military power serves the people—not corrupt elites or foreign interests.
While external support will not vanish entirely, it will increasingly be tied to performance metrics and shared interests, not charity. As China and other global players deepen their influence, African governments have a narrow window of opportunity to redefine their strategic relationships and assert their sovereignty.
The next few years will be a crucial test of whether Africa can stand on its own—or whether it will remain, as General Langley implied, a continent too dependent on others to shape its own future.
