The first-ever Africa Partners Group (APG) met May 18-20, 2009 in Garmisch, Germany. The group was formed based on the recognition by a number of partner nations that there is a need for a forum to coordinate operational-level issues among nations with similar goals and objectives in Africa. While the APG was hosted by United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), organizers are quick to point out that this is a truly international endeavor, undertaken in a spirit of unity of effort toward security and stability in Africa.

Delegates from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK came together, along with observers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union to cover wide-ranging topics such as Training Centers, Standardization, Security Sector Reform, Maritime Issues and Exercises.

APG produced some thought-provoking discussion among the partner nations along with a number of proposals that the delegates will be taking back to their respective countries for refinement and follow-up. The Africa Partners Group will convene again next year, to be hosted in the United Kingdom.