WATCH: U.S. Africa Command and partner voices on Women, Peace and Security

• Part I; Ambassador Andrew Young
• Part II: Lt. Col. Chelsea Payne
• Part III: Rear Adm. Heidi Berg
• Part IV: Ms. Sheila Roquitte
• Part V: Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher

The Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 was signed into U.S. law in October of that year. However, since 2011 U.S. Africa Command has worked to integrate the Women, Peace, and Security mandate in its activities with African security forces.

Before then annual training courses sponsored by AFRICOM and conducted for African partners had consistently seen all male participants. Consequently, AFRICOM saw the need to develop specific training opportunities just for women from African militaries. Beyond such skilled areas as communications and intelligence, the command has co-hosted workshops and seminars on gender integration, the role of women in peacekeeping operations, and responding to gender-based violence. U.S. Africa Command also explores new and innovative ways to integrate women, peace, and security into one of its core mission areas: security cooperation.

In 2020 U.S. Africa Command leveraged Women, Peace, and Security initiatives to host a virtual communication forum on female roles in cybersecurity.

For several years, U.S. Africa Command has integrated Women, Peace, and Security initiatives into Flintlock, the command's premiere special operations forces training event designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organizations, protect their borders, and provide security for their people.