AFRICOM Command for Liberia has been on the United States Government’s agenda since or before the administration of President Obama.
During the EBOLA outbreak of 2013 in West Africa, primarily; Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leona and Senegal. With the death rate as high as 55%, and Liberia having the highest total confirmed and suspected cases of EBOLA, the United States Government under the leadership of the then Commander In Chief, Gen. Barrack Obama, ordered the Secretary of Defense Charles Timothy Hagel to set-up an Africom Joint Forces Command Headquarters in Liberia. This was AFRICOM first official boots on the ground in West Africa.

The Africom Command Headquarters was to primarily assist the Center for Disease Control, support US military activities and help coordinate expended US and international relief efforts to fight the West African EBOLA outbreak.
After the EBOLA outbreak subsided, at the total annoyance of ECOWAS, the United States Government and Pres. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf would engage in diplomatic discussions for the setting up of a permanent AFRICOM Command Headquarters in Liberia but apparently same did not come to reality at that time, apparently due to ECOWAS opposition.

CHINA AND RUSSIA GROWING INFLUENCE IN
WEST AFRICA POSE DANGER TO THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE REGION. During President Joe Barden's administration, Gen Michael Langley, Commander of the United States African Command (AFRICOM), speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned of the growing danger to US national security owing to the Chinese and Russia growing influence in West Africa.

Gen. Langley testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee was the rebirth of the interest and demand for the setting up of the United States African Command (AFRICOM) Headquarters particular in West Africa. AFRICOM objectives especially be to counter the Russia’s Wagner Group that is actively operating in West Africa and the Chinese influence.
Up to the end of US President Joe Barden’s administration, there were only two West African countries on the list for the possible establishment of the United States African Command (AFRICOM) Headquarters, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia.
After the impromptu visit of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director, William J. Burns to Liberia in 2021 to inspect the newly built US Government funded project, National Security Agency (NSA) Headquarters, the CIA Director and Pres. Weah had a close door meeting at the Executive Mansion. During their meeting, Pres. Weah was invited to Virginia to visit the CIA Headquarters in Langley.
During their visit at the CIA Headquarters, Pres Weah was escorted by NSA Director J. Henric Pearson and Defense Minister Daniel Ziankahn Jr. Unfortunately, the Defense Minister was taken to a separate meeting while the NSA Director alone escorted Pres. Weah to his meeting.
At the meeting with the CIA Operatives, same was centered around………… SEE YOU TOMORROW.

Written by Philipbert Brown

About the writer: Former Assistant Minister of Defense for Press and Public Affairs, Former Acting Deputy Minister of Defense for Operations and Former Acting Minister of Defense.

Below is the picture of the former CIA Director, William J. Burns.