Kenneth P. Ekman

Retired Air Force Major General Kenneth P. Ekman is a former key player in U.S. military operations in West Africa, having served as the lead for the West Africa Coordination Element at U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) until his retirement in 2023. He has extensive knowledge of the region's security dynamics, particularly regarding the threats posed by Islamist groups like JNIM in Mali, and has expressed concerns about the implications of the deteriorating situation for U.S. national security.