In October 2008, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) will be "stood up" as a unified combatant command. In Africa this announcement has been met with trepidation and controversy.

Resistance to the idea is fuelled primarily by fears that it could lead to the militarisation of American foreign policy towards Africa. Of its numerous critics, South Africa has been especially vocal. Yet in other parts of Africa there is a cautious optimism based on the hope that Washington is finally taking the relationship between African security and development seriously.

However, there appears to be agreement on two key points. The first is that AFRICOM is still an enigma. No one is sure what it will do or how, and what it means for Africa. The second is that AFRICOM's success will ultimately depend on how well the U.S. understands and responds to the security priorities of Africans. . . .

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Mauro De Lorenzo is a resident fellow at AEI. Greg Mills is the director of the Brenthurst Foundation. Terence McNamee is a director at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in London. Matthew Uttley is the dean of academic studies at the UK Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham.