Approximately 1,300 participants from nearly 30 international and African nations have converged for Exercise Flintlock 2024, a significant military training event that officially commenced on May 13 in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. This exercise, the largest of its kind in Africa, aims to enhance collective security, foster cross-border collaboration, and reinforce military bonds.
Ghana Armed Forces Brigadier General Kweku Dankwa Hagan expressed pride in hosting Exercise Flintlock for the second consecutive time. He emphasized the enduring partnership between Ghana and the participating nations. The event serves as a testament to the healthy relationships forged over the years.
Running through May 24th, Exercise Flintlock 24 brings together forces from the U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SocAfrica) and nearly 30 partner nations. Approximately 1,300 personnel are participating in various locations across Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. SocAfrica’s mission is to strengthen collaboration among special operations forces in Africa, including NATO partners.
In the lead-up to Flintlock 24, SocAfrica and Ghana Armed Forces conducted a final planning event from late February to early March. The sessions covered critical areas such as the rule of law, civil affairs activities, air operations, and women, peace, and security. These preparations ensure that participants are well-equipped to address threats on the continent collectively.
Building Enduring Partnerships
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Ronald A. Foy, SocAfrica commander, highlighted the value of Exercise Flintlock. It serves as a mechanism for international allies and partners to train, live, and learn together. The exercise fosters enduring and sustainable partnerships that extend beyond the training field and into real-world operations.
Global Representation
Exercise Flintlock boasts participation from five out of seven continents, emphasizing its global reach. The diverse partnerships formed during this event contribute to enhanced interoperability and reinforce military capabilities worldwide.
Parallel Exercise: Obangame Express 2024
Simultaneously, Exercise Obangame Express 2024 has been ongoing since May 6 along Africa’s west coast, centered around Gabon. This exercise complements Flintlock by addressing maritime security challenges in the region.
Strengthening Relationships
In Côte d’Ivoire, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Colonel Michael George, expressed gratitude to Ivorian partners for hosting the exercise for the third consecutive year. The close collaboration efforts throughout the year have strengthened the relationship between the U.S. and Ivoirian Special Operations Forces.
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Jessica Davis-Ba, emphasized that these connections enable military leaders and personnel to work effectively together. The shared experiences enhance command, control, communications, and information sharing.
Exercise Flintlock 2024, as US Africa Command’s premier special operations forces exercise, plays a vital role in reinforcing security, trust, and skillsets among African partners. As the event concludes on May 24, the lessons learned and partnerships forged will continue to shape regional security efforts.
According to the US military, Exercise Flintlock is designed to strengthen collective security, enable greater cross-border collaboration between African partners, reinforce military bonds and trust of the civilian populace, as well as augment tactics, techniques, procedures, and skillsets to address common threats. Exercise Flintlock is US Africa Command’s premier special operations forces exercise. This year’s edition will conclude on 24 May.
In the leadup to Flintlock, US Special Operations Command Africa, special operation forces from the United Kingdom Ranger Regiment, and the Ghana Armed Forces held a combined training event in in April. Two US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers took part, allowing US Special Operations Command Africa and Ghanaian troops to practice calling in close air support.
Ghana and the United States have long joined forces to combat terrorism and piracy. Cooperation is even more important due to democratic backsliding elsewhere in Africa and the growing threat of extremism on the continent.
Sponsored by Africom and conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, Obangame Express is a 13-nation maritime interdiction training taking place in the Ghanaian city of Sekondi through May 17.
“Through Obangame Express, U.S. forces work alongside participating nations to improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security in West Africa, and increase interoperability [among] the U.S., African and multinational partners,” Ryder said, adding that the U.S. routinely exercises with our African partners to build strong relationships and to ensure the security and safety of the region’s maritime environment.
“The exercises are incredibly important and they are enduring,” Ryder responded when asked about the efficacy of U.S.-led exercises throughout Africom’s area of responsibility.
“Certainly,” he continued, “when it comes to things like counterterrorism, or addressing regional threats, or humanitarian crisis-types of situations, those exercises are central to enabling our forces to not only interoperate, but to understand one-another, and to have those kinds of relationships that — on that day you need them most — they’re there.”