Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) since August 2022, has been replaced amid controversy following remarks attributed to him targeting Burkina Faso’s leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré.
President Donald Trump nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson to succeed Langley, marking a potential shift in U.S. military leadership in Africa, the Pentagon announced on June 4.
If confirmed by the Senate, Anderson would become the first Air Force officer to lead AFRICOM, a command established in 2007 to oversee U.S. military operations across 53 African nations.
Langley, the first Black four-star general in Marine Corps history, faced backlash after claiming he threatened to “eliminate” Traoré, Burkina Faso’s military leader, over allegations of diverting national gold reserves for personal security.
While no official Pentagon statement confirms these remarks, the controversy coincided with escalating tensions in the Sahel, where Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have expelled Western forces and deepened ties with Russia.
Langley’s tenure was also marked by challenges, including the U.S. withdrawal from a key drone base in Niger and the resurgence of Al-Shabaab in Somalia, which he recently described as “entrenched, wealthy, and large” despite U.S. airstrikes.
Sources indicate Langley is preparing for a visit to Somaliland in June, a move that may reflect shifting U.S. priorities in the Horn of Africa.
Lt. Gen. Anderson, a seasoned pilot with over 3,400 flight hours, including 738 in combat, brings extensive experience in African operations.
Currently, the director for joint force development on the Joint Staff, Anderson, previously led Special Operations Command-Africa from 2019 to 2021, overseeing the repositioning of U.S. forces from Somalia during Operation Octave Quartz.
His nomination, announced by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, signals Trump’s intent to maintain AFRICOM as an independent command, quashing rumours of its integration into U.S. European Command.
Anderson’s prior praise of Somali forces, however, has drawn scrutiny, particularly after U.S.-trained Danab units abandoned positions in Somalia last week.
The leadership transition comes at a critical juncture for AFRICOM, as extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Shabaab expand their influence and U.S. military access in West Africa diminishes.
