Gen. William Ward who heads the United States Africa Command (Africom) has defended the military intervention in the oil-producing nation of Gabon. Africom has come under scrutiny since its announcement during 2007.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Tue Sep 29, 8:43 pm ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The head of the US Africa command defended holding a joint military exercise in Gabon, which has been rocked by protests in the wake of a disputed election in early September.
General William Ward denied that it was inappropriate for the US military to hold the Africa Endeavour exercise in the West African nation, where riots broke out after an election to replace late president Omar Bongo.
"Those African nations who participate determine where various pieces of it will be hosted," Ward said of the exercise, which brings together military personnel from more than 25 nations.
Violence broke out in Gabon on September 3, when Ali Bongo was named the winner of an election to succeed his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who ruled the country for 41 years before his death in June.
Opposition leaders say up to 22 people have been killed in demonstrations and opposition presidential candidate Andre Mba Obame has alleged "massive fraud" in the August 30 vote, and told AFP he fears assassination.
Speaking at the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank, Ward dismissed claims that training provided by the Africa Endeavour mission could be misused by soldiers in Gabon, who earlier this week detained the editor of a newspaper over reports on post-electoral violence.
"What's going on there is a exercise where nations... want to be more capable in conducting peacekeeping and other operations," Ward said.
"Our methodology is a methodology that says we want to help them to be more professional," he added.
"Where our policy indicates that we have a relationship, then we work to help that nation become more professional to cause the things that we do to be an example of how militaries act as protectors of their people and not as oppressors."
The command that Ward heads has faced controversy since it was established in 2007, with governments from various African countries fearing it was the beginning of increased US military presence in the continent.
Ward noted that the command continues to be headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany and insisted "there are no plans to move any of that to the continent of Africa."
Describing Africom as "a listening organization," Ward said his goal was to improve African security capacity.
"We see a professional African security sector as a vital element towards helping to prevent conflict," he said. "What we're about is increased stability in Africa."
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