US military shifts messaging in Africa, telling allies to prepare to stand more on their own

The U.S. military is backing off its usual talk of good governance and countering underlying causes of African insurgencies. Instead, the Pentagon is leaning into a message that its fragile allies in Africa must be ready to stand more on their own. In an interview with The Associated Press, the U.S. military's top general in Africa emphasized burden sharing. Gen. Michael Langley says getting African militaries trained to operate independently was a top priority for President Donald Trump's Defense Department. Africa has rarely ranked high on the U.S. military’s priorities, but the messaging is a departure from prior emphasis on holistic approaches to maintaining security and countering insurgency.