11 July Reuters - Bush Picks Black General to Lead Africa Operations by Kristin Roberts.

U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday nominated Army Gen. William Ward, the highest ranking black in the U.S. military, to lead the new Africa Command and coordinate military operations on the continent.

Bush's decision in February to create Africa Command came after months of discussion inside the Pentagon and reflected increasing U.S. strategic interest in the continent and worry that Islamic militants were finding safe haven there...
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Africa Command will first be part of European Command and have some operational capability by October. It should be a stand-alone, operational command by the end of fiscal year 2008, which ends September 30, 2008.

The Pentagon has not decided where to put Africa Command's headquarters. Ryan Henry, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, in June said the command might set up staff offices at different places around the continent.