Relocate AFRICOM Headquarters – Buhari Begs U.S

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the United States government to relocate the headquarters of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Germany.

On Tuesday during his virtual meeting with the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken noted that there is the need to move the command headquarters closer to the theatre of operation.

Gistlover reports that AFRICOM is one of the 11 departments of defence combatant commands of the US which focuses on addressing security challenges affecting African countries.

But according to a statement by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, Buhari has asked for the relocation of the headquarters as part of efforts to tackle the insecurity in Nigeria and other African countries.

“The security challenges in Nigeria remain of great concern to us and impacted more negatively, by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad Region.”

“Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and her security forces remain resolutely committed to containing them and addressing their root causes. The support of important and strategic partners like United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations hence the imperative for concerted cooperation and collaboration of all nations to overcome these challenges.

“In this connection, and considering the growing security challenges in West and Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Chad region and the Sahel, weighing heavily on Africa, it underscores the need for the United States to consider re-locating AFRICOM Headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa and near the Theatre of Operation,” the President said.