General Langley: Kenitra is a Candidate to Host Africom Headquarters and Strengthen U.S. Role in Africa
In an unprecedented strategic shift, the U.S. leadership has announced its intention to relocate the headquarters of the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) from Germany to Morocco, specifically to the city of Kenitra, which has increasingly gained significance among military decision-makers in Washington.
The decision, revealed by General Michael Langley, commander of Africom, during a congressional hearing, has been described as a bold step towards enhancing the U.S. presence on the African continent, particularly in the Sahel region, which has been experiencing escalating security challenges and intense international competition, notably from Russia.
Langley, addressing the House Armed Services Committee, did not hide the high regard his country holds for the Kingdom of Morocco, calling it "the most reliable partner in Africa." He affirmed that this transition would enable operational mobilization and improve responses to terrorist threats, despite the high costs associated with moving the headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany.
Although discussions about this move date back to former President Donald Trump’s administration, the decision only became official recently, after deliberations among several potential sites, including the Rota base in Spain and other options in North Africa. However, Morocco emerged as the clear favorite, given its close military cooperation and the growing role of Rabat in maintaining regional and international security.
This shift sends clear political messages, particularly in the context of regional tensions and geopolitical conflicts in the Sahel. The decision also sends signals to parties that exploit terrorism as a tool of influence, notably the Polisario Front, which has been linked by recent German intelligence reports to extremist groups operating in the Sahel.
Africom’s command structure is expected to undergo significant changes, with General David Anderson from the U.S. Air Force being appointed as the new commander, while General Brad Cooper will take charge of central operations, indicating a renewal in the U.S. strategic vision for Africom’s roles in the coming phase.
Despite being established in 2007, Africom’s headquarters has remained outside the continent, in Stuttgart, Germany, for security and political reasons, primarily following the deaths of four American soldiers in Niger. However, the complexities of the situation in Africa have prompted a reevaluation of this positioning.
The American move towards Kenitra carries implications beyond military aspects; it reflects, according to observers, an implicit recognition of Morocco as a trusted strategic ally, serving as a security bulwark against the rise of terrorist threats and the encroachment of competing foreign powers in North and West Africa.
As the frequency of visits and communications between defense officials of the two nations increases, the decision is expected to pave the way for accompanying U.S. investment projects tied to the military presence, potentially turning Kenitra into an American pivot not only in military terms but also economically and operationally on the continent.
