Gen. Norton Schwartz said that an airpower strategy focused on Africa would enable the US and its African allies to address root causes of security problems before they manifest themselves through violence.

This would prevent lower-intensity challenges from festering into “larger-scale crises that we must confront,” he said at the African Air Chiefs Conference in the Ethiopia capital, which is the headquarters for the African Union.

North Africa faces terrorism threats from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, while east Africa faces terrorism threats from groups in Somalia, such as Al-Shabab, an ally of Al-Qaeda. Military cooperation is key to addressing those threats, said US Air Forces Africa commander Maj. Gen.

Margaret H. Woodward.

Woodward addressed concerns that the US is trying to militarize the African continent, considering the role the US and NATO are playing against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. The African Union has denounced the foreign military action in Libya, saying it undermines finding an African solution to an African problem.

“Some may point to recent military operations in Libya and claim that we have not been true to our word,” Woodward said. “The approach hasn’t changed. Partnering with African nations to enable African solutions or African problems is still our primary philosophy.” Schwartz said he prefers long-term assignments to episodic or ad hoc relationships and interventions.

The general said he wants the US Air Force to engage in more lasting and permanent programs facilitating, training and cooperating with security forces in Africa.

The US Air Forces provide airpower to AFRICOM, the Germany-based US military headquarters for Africa operations. AFRICOM primarily engages in military-to-military development programs and executes military operations. Its main goal is to defeat Al-Qaeda’s network and promote stability and security in Africa to protect the US population, its website says.