Africa-Press – Rwanda. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced President Donald Trump’s nomination of General Kevin D. Admiral to take command of the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa, making him the first African American officer nominated by the Trump administration for this position and the second general of African descent to be nominated to lead this military command since its establishment in its current form.
This nomination is part of a series of significant changes within the U.S. military leadership, which has seen several senior officers leave their positions before the end of their terms, alongside a restructuring of some senior military roles and a reduction in the ranks assigned to them.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, General Kevin D. Admiral will become the fourth permanent commander of the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa since the merger of the European and African commands in 2020. He will also concurrently lead the allied ground forces of NATO while retaining the rank of General, following a reduction in the rank previously assigned to this position.
Admiral will succeed General Christopher Donahoe, who left his position earlier than expected, while Major General Christopher Norrie has temporarily led the forces since Donahoe’s departure. Media reports indicated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pressured Donahoe to resign, but the U.S. Department of Defense has not provided a detailed official explanation regarding the reasons for his departure.
General Kevin D. Admiral currently commands the Third Armored Corps and Fort Hood in Texas. He has previously led the First Cavalry Division, the Third Cavalry Regiment, and the First Battalion of the 36th Infantry Regiment, and has participated in military missions and field deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Europe. However, his publicly available military record does not show that he has previously commanded a military formation focused on the African continent.
If confirmed by the Senate, he will become the first Black officer nominated by the Trump administration to lead the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa, and the second American general of African descent to hold this position, following General Darryl Williams, who became the first Black commander of this joint command in June 2022 during the previous administration of Joe Biden.
Admiral will thus join a limited group of Black American generals who have held strategic responsibilities related to the U.S. military presence in Africa, as General William Kip Ward was the first commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) when it was established in 2007. Marine Corps General Michael Langley became the sixth commander of AFRICOM and the first four-star general of African descent in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps in 2022, serving until August 2025. General Dagvin R. Anderson, nominated by Trump in 2025, currently leads AFRICOM as its seventh commander.
These changes come at a time when the United States is facing increased competition with Russia and China for influence within the African continent. Moscow has strengthened its military cooperation with the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, while China continues to expand its presence as one of the largest arms suppliers and a key partner in infrastructure projects across the continent.
Washington has responded to these developments by intensifying its security cooperation with several African nations, adopting a more direct approach in combating armed groups. In May 2026, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with the Nigerian army, conducted strikes targeting ISIS fighters in northeastern Nigeria, announcing that operations were carried out on May 16, 17, and 18.
Morocco hosted the main phase of the “African Lion 2026” exercises, the largest annual military exercises organized by AFRICOM, with participation from several countries including Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. The United States and Morocco are also working to establish a multi-domain African training and experimentation center focused on testing drones, artificial intelligence technologies, autonomous systems, and advanced military communications.
The Trump administration continues to implement a strategy aimed at enhancing its presence in Africa, which includes launching the first investment package of $500 million dedicated to the critical minerals sector, alongside efforts to restore security cooperation with Mali after years of tension.
Reports indicate that Washington is nearing an agreement that would allow U.S. aircraft and drones to resume their intelligence operations over Mali to monitor groups linked to al-Qaeda, and the U.S. administration has lifted sanctions on several senior military officials in Mali as part of its efforts to rebuild relations with Bamako, which has maintained a close defense partnership with Russia in recent years.
