UN, ECOWAS partners kick-off Western Accord 16

Western Accord 16 is underway in Burkina Faso

"It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of shared responsibility with the host nation, Burkina Faso. They have been excellent partners. Without their commitment we couldn't have done it."

By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Candace Mundt , 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs May 09, 2016

View Gallery

UN, ECOWAS partners kick-off Western Accord 16

Gallery contains 7 images

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso -- Twenty flags of U.N. partner nations and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, blew in the warm Burkina Faso wind between two formations of soldiers representing various participating militaries.

The troops reached into their sleeve pockets, removed brightly colored patches and slapped them on their uniforms signifying the official start of Western Accord 16 and completion of the opening day ceremony, May 2, at Camp Zagre in Ouagadougou.

Western Accord 16 is an annual combined, joint exercise designed to increase the ability of African partner forces and the U.S. to exercise participants' capability and capacity to conduct African Union/United Nation mandated peace operations. Lead planners from the Burkina Faso army, U.S. Army Africa and the U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou began coordinating the exercise in December of last year.

"An exercise of this size is normally planned in eight to 12 months, however we had five months to prepare for this exercise," said Maj. Justin Sisak, USARAF lead planner for Western Accord 16. "It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of shared responsibility with the host nation, Burkina Faso. They have been excellent partners. Without their commitment we couldn't have done it."

"[The U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso] has been very supportive," Sisak continued. "They have given me all the support and additional resources that we needed to execute, given the short timeline, and made it easy."

This is the first year a Western Accord series exercise is conducted in Burkina Faso. David Young, deputy chief of mission for the U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou said this country is the right host nation for Western Accord 16 because they are a serious partner.

"They are very eager to grow their military relationship," Young said. "So, they were very quick to volunteer, to host and to really contribute to this giant effort that's started today."

Burkinabe military leaders hope this exercise will allow their staff to become familiar with the U.N. operational process, strengthen regional and international partnerships, and prepare them to coordinate effectively across ECOWAS for future missions.

"We need our officers to be able to work together in a headquarters level and be capable with all of the know-how and knowledge that entails working together as a group," said Gen. Pingrenoma Zagre, chief of defense staff for the Burkina Faso Armed Forces.

"We're going to have a really good conference, a lot of success," Zagre added.

"We need to incorporate our officers into this organization so they have practice, learn how to operate together as a team, and also with all the various nation partners," said Col. Maj. Yaya Sere, Burkina Faso army lead planner for Western Accord 16. "If our officers can learn how to do that, that's success."

Sponsored by U.S. Africa Command, Western Accord 16 is the first of four accord series exercises USARAF has scheduled for this summer with support from 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, their assigned regionally aligned brigade.

Interagency forum looks at U.S. investment in Africa to support U.S. security

U.S. Strengthens Maritime Security Cooperation with Kenya During NAVAF Commander’s Visit

U.S. Forces Conduct Strike Targeting al-Shabaab

Massachusetts National Guard leaders join Kenyan partners at African Land Forces Summit

U.S., Ivorian Armed Forces Enhance Readiness

Interagency forum looks at U.S. investment in Africa to support U.S. security

More than 160 civilian and military representatives from the Departments of War, State and Commerce met March 26-27, 2026, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to identify strategic priorities and opportunities for the United States in Africa as part of the Africa Strategic Integration Dialogue (ASID).

U.S., Ivorian Armed Forces Enhance Readiness

Logicians from U.S. Africa Command conducted a military-to-military engagement with the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire to enhance vehicle maintenance and supply programs, March 10-13, 2026.

AFRICOM bolsters innovation skills with targeted training

U.S. Africa Command is enhancing its personnel’s ability to generate innovative solutions through a series of targeted training courses designed to equip staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle complex challenges.

Interagency forum looks at U.S. investment in Africa to support U.S. security

U.S., Ivorian Armed Forces Enhance Readiness

Logicians from U.S. Africa Command conducted a military-to-military engagement with the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire to enhance vehicle maintenance and supply programs, March 10-13, 2026.

AFRICOM bolsters innovation skills with targeted training

Interagency forum looks at U.S. investment in Africa to support U.S. security

U.S., Ivorian Armed Forces Enhance Readiness

Logicians from U.S. Africa Command conducted a military-to-military engagement with the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire to enhance vehicle maintenance and supply programs, March 10-13, 2026.

AFRICOM bolsters innovation skills with targeted training

United States Africa Command

UN, ECOWAS partners kick-off Western Accord 16

Western Accord 16 is underway in Burkina Faso

Western Accord 16

Western Accord 16

Western Accord 16

Western Accord 16

Western Accord 16

Western Accord 16

Western Accord 16