Exercises

U.S. Africa Command forces serve as trainers and examples of military professionalism and U.S. core national values during the command's joint exercises. The exercises they conduct encourage the development of partner security capabilities and the instilling of professional ethos among African military elements.

African Lion

African Lion is led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force as a joint, all-domain, multi-national exercise in Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal linked to U.S. European Command’s DEFENDER series exercise to counter malign activity in North Africa and Southern Europe and increase interoperability between U.S., African, and international partners to defend the theater from adversary military aggression. African Lion accomplishes this by establishing a Combined Joint Task Force in an austere location and focusing on large-scale combat operations to include: command and control, combined arms maneuver, naval gunfire, and close air support as well as CPX, FTX, MTX, and ATX.

 


Cutlass Express

Exercise Cutlass Express is a U.S. Naval Forces Africa-led, all-domain exercise in East African coastal regions and the West Indian Ocean. The exercise is linked to U.S. Central Command’s International Maritime Exercise to counter malign influence, aggression, and activity along overlapping command seams and maritime regions. Cutlass Express accomplishes this by using the Djibouti Code of Conduct and Coalition Maritime Force Command and Control framework to improve interoperability between U.S., African, and international partners during a CPX, and at-sea FTX to promote freedom of navigation and free commerce through key geostrategic chokepoints.

 


Flintlock

Flintlock is a Special Operations Command Africa-led all-domain exercise in Senegal focused on the G5 Sahel Force and their interoperability with U.S. and NATO special operations forces to counter malign influence, aggression, and activity. This is accomplished through a CPX and FTX using Global Power Competition and Counter-Violent Extremist Organization-focused scenarios 

 


Justified Accord

Southern European Task Force leads this joint, all-domain exercise Justified Accord in East Africa to enable future operations, maintain strategic access, and build partner capacity to disrupt malign influence, aggression, and activity. Justified Accord utilizes academics, a CPX, and an FTX to exercise contingency plans, strengthen alliances, improve joint readiness, and increase interoperability between U.S., African, and international partners. 

 


Obangame Express

Exercise Obangame Express is a U.S. Naval Forces Africa-led all-domain exercise to counter malign influence, aggression, activity, and base establishment in the Gulf of Guinea Economic Exclusion Zones and West African coastal regions. Obangame Express accomplishes this by using the Yaoundé Code of Conduct framework to conduct a CPX, FTX, and academics to increase U.S. access and influence and build partner capacity and capability in interdiction of GPC competitor illicit and malign maritime activities. 

 


Phoenix Express

Phoenix Express is an annual all-domain exercise to improve U.S. capabilities and interoperability with European and North African partners, increase partner self-sufficiency in the maritime domain, and assess and enhance the maritime security cooperation of U.S., European, and African regional partners. Phoenix Express was originally based on the Western Mediterranean Forum (commonly known as the 5+5 dialogue) but has grown in scope to include other international partners and organizations to counter adversaries that negatively influence U.S. and partner interests and threaten regional security. Phoenix Express 21 will also promote freedom of navigation and free commerce from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Suez Canal.