U.S. Africa Command

United States Africa Command
The Emblem of the United States Africa Command
Active	Authorized: 15 December 2006 Announced: 6 February 2007 Established: 1 October 2007 Activated: 1 October 2008
Country	United States of America
Type	Unified Combatant Command
Size	2,000 (1,500 stationed at HQ in Germany)
Part of	Department of Defense
Headquarters	Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany
Nickname(s)	U.S. AFRICOM, USAFRICOM
Engagements	2011 military intervention in Libya
Website	www.africom.mil
Commanders
Commander	General Thomas D. Waldhauser, United States Marine Corps
Deputy for Military Operations	Vice Admiral Michael T. Franken, U.S. Navy
Deputy for Civil-Military Engagement	Ambassador Alexander M. Laskaris, U.S. Department of State

The United States Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM (official abbreviation), USAFRICOM, or AFRICOM) is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations and military relations with 53 African nations. Its area of responsibility covers all of Africa except Egypt, which is within the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command. U.S. AFRICOM headquarters operating budget was $276 million in fiscal year 2012.

The Commander of U.S. AFRICOM reports to the Secretary of Defense. In individual countries, U.S. Ambassadors continue to be the primary diplomatic representative for relations with host nations.

In 2007, the White House announced, "[AFRICOM] will strengthen our security cooperation with Africa and create new opportunities to bolster the capabilities of our partners in Africa. Africa Command will enhance our efforts to bring peace and security to the people of Africa and promote our common goals of development, health, education, democracy, and economic growth in Africa."

General Carter F. Ham said in a 2012 address at Brown University that U.S. strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa is to strengthen democratic institutions and boost broad-based economic growth.

Prior to the creation of AFRICOM, responsibility for U.S. military operations in Africa was divided across three unified commands: United States European Command (EUCOM) for West Africa, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) for East Africa, and United States Pacific Command (PACOM) for Indian Ocean waters and islands off the east coast of Africa.