During a question and answer session with Gen. William “Kip” Ward at Politecnica University in Maputo, Mozambique, student Miguel Prista asked what the U.S. intends to accomplish with U.S. Africa Command. His theory was that the command was formed as part of an attempt toward global domination, but Ward said the purpose of his command centers on helping African countries develop more capacity to provide for their own security. (John Vandiver / Stars and Stripes)
MAPUTO, Mozambique — In an auditorium of academicians, diplomats and defense attaches, a bearded student took the microphone and went off on a monologue.
Miguel Prista had a lot to get off his chest.
During a question-and-answer session with Gen. William "Kip" Ward, the Portuguese-speaking Maputo resident let loose on his theories about the United States and its intentions with U.S. Africa Command. AFRICOM isn’t about building partnerships, but rather another means for U.S. to achieve global domination, Prista argued.
Prista’s long speech and multipart question elicited a succinct response from Ward, the AFRICOM commander
"That’s a quick one for me," Ward said. "We do not seek to dominate."
At Politecnica University in Maputo, Ward was the guest speaker Thursday for a discussion on AFRICOM and what it means for Mozambique. But for some in the assembled crowd of roughly 175 people, AFRICOM and its military-to-military partnerships with Mozambique was of secondary interest.
Rather, much of the focus from the audience centered on suspected hidden motives of the United States and its interest in Africa.
During his visit in Maputo, Ward met with military and political leaders to discuss areas where the U.S. can support efforts of the military to build its security capacity. The general has been having similar discussions in the past week with leaders from other southeast African countries.
But on a continent with a long history of colonialism and having its natural resources plundered by outsiders, the notion that American interests are restricted to helping Africans provide for their own security appears to be a hard sell at times.
During his speech, Ward talked about the purpose of his visit.
"A continual dialogue is essential to improving our cooperation," Ward said. "Face-to-face meetings and discussions provide for our mutual understanding and allow us to reach consensus on the way ahead.
"Our goal is to contribute to the peace and stability in the region and do our best to help deter and prevent conflict. Anything we do has the support and acceptance of that nation. In other words, we provide security assistance that you ask of us."
Ward also touched on some of the recent AFRICOM collaborations in Mozambique — such as the Africa Partnership Station, which helps train coast guards and navies in maritime security — as well as missions that reach across the continent, including medical initiatives, counterterrorism partnerships in the Horn of Africa and education in the logistics of deploying forces.
After Ward’s speech, the audience of students and academicians got a chance to ask questions, which generally centered on U.S. motives for engaging in Africa.
For one audience member, the formation of AFRICOM was done to position the U.S. for controlling natural resources, particularly in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea in western Africa. Ward said there was no such hidden agenda.
"National treasures should be used first for the benefit of the people of those nations," Ward said.
When there is security in places like the Gulf of Guinea, those resources also will be available on the global market, which in turn means more economic stability, Ward said.
"The United States has no desire to control small nations’ resources," he said.
He also said threats to security — whether it’s the trafficking of narcotics or human beings, illegal fishing or piracy — aren’t restricted by borders.
"Those threats are global in nature and require us working together," he said.
