A Combatant Command is a military organization that coordinates and directs operations in a specific area of responsibility. The Department of Defense splits their efforts around the world by region, and each Combatant Command is responsible for military operations in its assigned area.
Ms. Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Maureen Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element visited with Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Defense M. Téné Birahima Ouattara during a key diplomatic trip aimed at strengthening defense and security cooperation between the United States and Coastal West Africa.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
Ms. Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Maureen Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element visited with Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Defense M. Téné Birahima Ouattara during a key diplomatic trip aimed at strengthening defense and security cooperation between the United States and Coastal West Africa.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
Ms. Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Maureen Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element visited with Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Defense M. Téné Birahima Ouattara during a key diplomatic trip aimed at strengthening defense and security cooperation between the United States and Coastal West Africa.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
Ms. Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Maureen Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element visited with Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Defense M. Téné Birahima Ouattara during a key diplomatic trip aimed at strengthening defense and security cooperation between the United States and Coastal West Africa.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
Ms. Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Maureen Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element visited with Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Defense M. Téné Birahima Ouattara during a key diplomatic trip aimed at strengthening defense and security cooperation between the United States and Coastal West Africa.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
Ms. Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Maureen Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element visited with Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Defense M. Téné Birahima Ouattara during a key diplomatic trip aimed at strengthening defense and security cooperation between the United States and Coastal West Africa.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
Ms. Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Maureen Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element visited with Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Defense M. Téné Birahima Ouattara during a key diplomatic trip aimed at strengthening defense and security cooperation between the United States and Coastal West Africa.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
US Defense Officials Conclude Visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire
10:26 AM1/8/2025
U.S. defense officials have concluded a successful visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, focused on reinforcing defense and security cooperation with our key partners in Coastal West Africa. The delegation, led by Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Maureen Farrell, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, engaged in high-level discussions with senior defense leaders in both nations to enhance regional stability and address critical security challenges.
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command observes a group of students attending Shining Hope for Communities' (SHOFCO) development program in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 26, 2024. While in Kenya, SHOFCO gave AFRICOM direct access to see how its community-led model for transformation is providing health care, sustainable livelihood programs, essential services, clean water, and building female leadership in impoverished communities to create lasting change. Combatting threats that drive instability starts with 3D,” said Langley. “As a 3D organization when enabling our African partners in a unified effort to promote regional security and prosperity, it requires a whole of government effort – Development, Diplomacy, and Defense.” (U.S. Department of Defense courtesy photo by Shining Hope for Communities)
A local participant in Shining Hope for Communities' (SHOFCO) development program gives senior leaders from U.S. Africa Command a presentation on a vocational skill being taught by SHOFCO’s outreach efforts in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 26, 2024. While in Kenya, SHOFCO gave AFRICOM direct access to see how its community-led model for transformation is providing health care, sustainable livelihood programs, essential services, clean water, and building female leadership in impoverished communities to create lasting change. Combatting threats that drive instability starts with 3D,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander, AFRICOM. “As a 3D organization when enabling our African partners in a unified effort to promote regional security and prosperity, it requires a whole of government effort – Development, Diplomacy, and Defense.” (U.S. Department of Defense courtesy photo by Shining Hope for Communities)
Senior leaders from U.S. Africa Command join Kennedy Odede, founder and chief executive officer, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), for tour of the local development’s current educational and programmatic efforts to build promise from poverty by igniting transformation in urban slums in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 26, 2024. While in Kenya, SHOFCO gave AFRICOM direct access to see how its community-led model for transformation is providing health care, sustainable livelihood programs, essential services, clean water, and building female leadership in impoverished communities to create lasting change. (U.S. Department of Defense courtesy photo by Shining Hope for Communities)
A local participant in Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) development program gives U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command a presentation on water sanitation efforts provided by SHOFCO’s outreach efforts in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 26, 2024. Providing very low-cost water to the Kibera community as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education facilitated by community health workers is one of five approaches SHOFCO takes to provide critical services to the local community. While in Kenya, SHOFCO gave AFRICOM direct access to see how its community-led model for transformation is providing health care, sustainable livelihood programs, essential services, clean water, and building female leadership in impoverished communities to create lasting change. (U.S. Department of Defense courtesy photo by Shining Hope for Communities)
AFRICOM commander, Langley, key leaders visit eastern Africa
3:18 PM12/5/2024
STUTTGART, Germany --- U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command, alongside AFRICOM’s U.S. Agency for International Development Senior Development Advisor, Maura Barry Boyle; USMC Sgt. Maj. Michael Woods, command senior enlisted leader; and senior support staff traveled to the continent of Africa’s eastern region Nov. 21-28 to meet with various military, civil, and government partners in Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya.
This visit focused on engaging strategic and interagency partners, and civil society organizations about topics geared toward addressing challenges, opportunities and threats that impact regional stability.
U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, Director, AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE), met with Brigadier General (O8) Dimini Allahare, Togolese Chief of Defense Staff, and the senior leadership of the Togolese Armed Forces to include the Chief of Staffs for the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Gendarmerie at the Etat Major in Lomé, Togo, on November 19. This high-level engagement underscored the enduring partnership between the United States and Togo in strengthening regional security and cooperation.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, Director, AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE), met with Brigadier General (O8) Dimini Allahare, Togolese Chief of Defense Staff, and the senior leadership of the Togolese Armed Forces to include the Chief of Staffs for the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Gendarmerie at the Etat Major in Lomé, Togo, on November 19. This high-level engagement underscored the enduring partnership between the United States and Togo in strengthening regional security and cooperation.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE is supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, Director, AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE), met with Brigadier General (O8) Dimini Allahare, Togolese Chief of Defense Staff, and the senior leadership of the Togolese Armed Forces to include the Chief of Staffs for the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Gendarmerie at the Etat Major in Lomé, Togo, on November 19. This high-level engagement underscored the enduring partnership between the United States and Togo in strengthening regional security and cooperation.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE is supports AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, Director, AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE), visited Parakou Base, Benin, and listened in on a training session with Forces des Armées Beninoises on border security and deployment in support of Operation Mirador.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE is responsible for supporting AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, Director, AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE), takes a group photo with U.S. Africa Command personnel, members of the U.S. Embassy Cotonou Office of Security Cooperation, Team Benin CFT, and 2nd BN leadership in Benin after they received briefs about Operation Mirador and Forces des Armées Beninoises border security training.
The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE is responsible for supporting AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners.
Ambassador Howard A. Van Vranken, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana and U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, Commander, U.S. Africa Command, attend a brief about The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Gaborone, Botswana, June 27, 2024.
The PEPFAR and USAID through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), supports the Advancing Partners and Communities Project in Botswana (APC Botswana). The project's core funding covers grants management and capacity building for community-based family planning activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mary Linniman)