Service members with the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa welcome interagency officials during the 2022 East Africa Security Forum at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command strategy, engagement and programs director, briefs Department of Defense and Department of State officials during the annual East Africa Security Forum at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022.

U.S. Army Col. Timothy Macdonald, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa director of operations, provides a mission brief for Department of Defense and Department of State officials during the annual East Africa Security Forum at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022.

Ms. Chidi Blyden, deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, briefs Department of Defense and Department of State officials during the annual East Africa Security Forum at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Zana, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, welcomes Department of Defense and Department of State officials during the annual East Africa Security Forum at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, incoming commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Stephen Case, deputy commanding general of CJTF-HOA, listen to a mission brief during the 2022 East Africa Security Forum at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022.

U.S. Army Col. Timothy Macdonald, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa director of operations, provides a mission brief for Department of Defense and Department of State officials during the annual East Africa Security Forum at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022.

U.S. Army Col. Timothy Macdonald, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa director of operations, provides a mission brief for Department of Defense and Department of State officials during the annual East Africa Security Forum at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022.

Maj. Mike Sterling, North Carolina National Guard State Partnership Director, greets Uganda People’s Defense Forces Brig. Gen. Godard Busingye at the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

The North Carolina National Guard hosts the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

The North Carolina National Guard hosts the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

Maj. Mike Sterling, North Carolina National Guard State Partnership Director, greets Namibian Defence Force Brig. Gen. Helena Ndilimeke Amutenya, left, and Cameroon Armed Forces Col. Marguerite Meffand-Loaw, center, at the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

Maj. Mike Sterling, North Carolina National Guard State Partnership Director, greets Botswana Defence Force Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. MPho Churchill Mophuting at the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

Members of the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council pose at the North Carolina National Guard hosted at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

Members of the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council pose at the North Carolina National Guard hosted at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

Members of the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council pose at the North Carolina National Guard hosted at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

Cameroon Armed Forces Col. Marguerite Meffand-Loaw addresses fellow legal professionals at the North Carolina National Guard hosted African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

Sandra Franzblau, Office of the Legal Counsel, United States Africa Command, addresses legal experts at the North Carolina National Guard hosted African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by AFRICOM, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

North Carolina National Guard leader U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff, right, and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel, listen to legal experts via translators at the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26 - 28, 2022. The conference, created by the United States Africa Command, brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders to share their expertise in International, Operational, Administrative, and Civil law and to announce the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum.

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Forces Special Operations Command teach the Nigerian Navy Special Forces tactical movements during a Joint Combined Exchange Training in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 28, 2022. The teams focused on honing basic skills such as close quarters battles, small unit tactics and mission planning.

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Forces Special Operations Command teach the Nigerian Navy Special Forces close-quarters combat during a Joint Combined Exchange Training in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 27, 2022. The teams focused on honing basic skills such as close-quarters battles, small unit tactics and mission planning.

Brig. Gen. Peter Bailey (right) and U.S. Embassy Zambia Chargé d’Affaires Martin Dale (left) join Zambia President Hichilema to announce the opening of an Office of Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Zambia.

Brig. Gen. Peter Bailey (right) and U.S. Embassy Zambia Chargé d’Affaires Martin Dale (left) join Zambia President Hichilema to announce the opening of an Office of Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Zambia.

Brig. Gen. Peter Bailey (right) and U.S. Embassy Zambia Chargé d’Affaires Martin Dale (left) join Zambia President Hichilema to announce the opening of an Office of Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Zambia.

A Judicial Police officer from Cabo Verde, monitors Sailors, and U.S. Coast Guardsmen aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), prepare seized contraband for offload to the Cabo Verdean authorities, April 6, 2022. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

Sailors assigned to the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), lower seized contraband into a rigid-hull inflatable boat for transport to the Cabo Verdean authorities, April 6, 2022. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

A Judicial Police officer from Cabo Verde, monitors a Sailor, and U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), prepare seized contraband for offload to the Cabo Verdean authorities, April 6, 2022. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

Boatswain's Mate Seaman Samuel Martyka, from Joliet, Illinois, signals for a crane hook to lower to a rigid-hull inflatable boat in preparation for small boat operations, aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), April 6, 2022. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

Boatswain's Mate Seaman Samuel Martyka, from Joliet, Illinois, performs a communication check from a rigid-hull inflatable boat prior to small boat operations, aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), April 6, 2022. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

A Judicial Police officer from Cabo Verde, monitors Sailors, and U.S. Coast Guardsmen aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), prepare seized contraband for offload to the Cabo Verdean authorities, April 6, 2022. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

The Cabo Verdean authorities pull alongside the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), to receive seized contraband and detainees following maritime security operations with Cabo Verde, April 6, 2022. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

Seized contraband is stacked on the mission deck aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), prior to its offload to the Cabo Verdean authorities, April 6, 2022. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

Mr. Magagi Maman Dada, Agadez Regional Governor, cuts a ceremonial ribbon in front of the newly donated mobile field hospital in Agadez, Niger, April 4, 2022. The donation increases Agadez Regional Hospital’s capacity by an additional 30 beds, complete with the medical tools and resources to care for the 670,000-person community and surrounding areas.

The U.S. transferred two, 11-meter “Metal Shark” interceptor boats to the Royal Moroccan Navy on March 24. The two boats, valued at $970,000, are aimed at enhancing the Royal Moroccan Navy’s capacity to stop illicit trafficking in regional waters and are part of the broader military partnership between Morocco and the U.S.

Nigerien workers build a mobile field hospital financed by U.S. Africa Command through the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster Assistance, and Civic Aid program in Agadez, Niger, March 22, 2022. Subject matter experts taught Nigerien workers how to construct and maintain the field hospital autonomously, allowing the facility to be repurposed by the Government of Niger once the COVID-19 threat subsides

Military senior leaders from the U.S. Army and over 40 African countries met for the 10th African Land Forces Summit from March 21-25. The goal of the ALFS is to strengthen partnerships across Africa to improve regional and continent-wide security, as well as demonstrate to African partners that the U.S. is committed to their long-term success. (Image clipped from video production)

Service members with the Royal Moroccan military provide covering positions during a boarding training evolution aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams as part of exercise Obangame Express 2022, March 15, 2022. Obangame Express 2022 is a maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation and increase maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa coastal regions.

Service members with the Royal Moroccan military provide covering positions during a boarding training evolution aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams as part of exercise Obangame Express 2022, March 15, 2022. Obangame Express 2022 is a maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation and increase maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa coastal regions.

Gen. James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, answers a question following remarks at the African Land Forces Summit on Mar. 22, 2022 at the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center in Columbus, Georgia. Gen. McConville gave remarks about the role of the non-commissioned officer as a critical component to the success of the U.S. Army.

Military senior leaders from the U.S. Army and over 40 African countries met for the 10th African Land Forces Summit from March 21-25. The goal of the ALFS is to strengthen partnerships across Africa to improve regional and continent-wide security, as well as demonstrate to African partners that the U.S. is committed to their long-term success.