My significant other is away to the African Studies Association meeting and it occurred to me to browse the program to see how many presenters are taking AFRICOM as their topic. Only two, it turns out, both of whom list Africa Command as their affiliation. I suspect that runs counter to some folks’ perception of perceptions in a couple of ways.

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Commanding Africa (Saturday 1415–1615)

Chair: William Minter, AfricaFocus

Liza Briggs, US Africa Command – “US Africa Command: a socio-cultural lens on military engagement”

Ibrahim Ndzesop, University of Paris I – “Mercenaries and military manpower in African history: when do states use mercenaries?”

Stephen Harmon, Pittsburgh State University – “Kidnapping and contraband: al-Qaeda in the Sahara-Sahel region and its implications for regional policy”

Maureen Farrell, US Africa Command – “Gender mainstreaming with African militaries: a role for AFRICOM?”

Discussant: William Minter, AfricaFocus