1:00 PM2/18/2021

Counterparts from U.S. African Command, the Michigan National Guard, and the Armed Forces of Liberia participate in a remote meeting January 20, 2021, as a part of an initiative of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)’s Office of Legal Counsel known as Command Advice, Investigations, and Coordination (CAIC, pronounced “cake”). This new program deepens military adherence to the rule of law and facilitates military support to the prosecution of terrorists. It is implemented through a series of multilateral and bilateral engagements, with National Guard units taking the lead on bilateral engagements where partnerships already exist. Michigan and Liberia have had an established relationship under the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP) since 2010 (Courtesy Photo).

1:56 PM2/5/2021

8:40 AM2/4/2021

Planners for exercise African Lion 21 gather for photo opportunity during a site survey in Morocco Jan. 20, 2021. Scheduled for June, African Lion, U.S. Africa Command's largest exercise, has increased interoperability among U.S. partners and allies since 2003. Plans for AL21 involve more than 5,000 troops from the United States, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and elsewhere. The global COVID-19 pandemic curtailed the previous year's exercise. Plans for AL21 include COVID-19 mitigations and flexible options to ensure maximum participation and value for participating countries.

8:39 AM2/4/2021

Scott McWhorter, center, coordinates logistics Jan. 20, 2021, for U.S. and Moroccan forces participating in African Lion 21. McWhorter, a Department of Army civilian, has dozens of exercises and training activities in Africa as part of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, G7 exercises team. McWhorter joined two dozen U.S. military planners in Morocco to establish plans for the African Lion 21 exercise, scheduled for June. African Lion, U.S. Africa Command's largest exercise, has increased interoperability among U.S. partners and allies since 2003. Plans for AL21 involve more than 10,000 troops from the United States, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and elsewhere. The global COVID-19 pandemic curtailed the previous year's exercise. Plans for AL21 include COVID-19 mitigations and flexible options to ensure maximum participation and value for participating countries.

8:39 AM2/4/2021

Master Sgt. Joshua Heaton, Georgia Army National Guard, and Scott McWhorter, Southern European Task Force, Africa, survey a small arms firing range in Morocco Jan. 20, 2021. Heaton and McWhorter joined two dozen U.S. military planners in Morocco to establish plans for the African Lion 21 exercise, scheduled for June. African Lion, U.S. Africa Command's largest exercise, has increased interoperability among U.S. partners and allies since 2003. Plans for AL21 involve more than 10,000 troops from the United States, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and elsewhere. The global COVID-19 pandemic curtailed the previous year's exercise. Plans for AL21 include COVID-19 mitigations and flexible options to ensure maximum participation and value for participating countries.

12:02 AM2/2/2021

Ambassador Andrew Young, deputy to the Commander for civil-military engagement, presents a gift on behalf of Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, to Defense Minister Aime Ngoy Mukena Jan. 29. The U.S. Africa Command delegation and DRC government and military officials discussed a shared commitment to enhance cooperation, partnership, and the goal of building a more peaceful and prosperous DRC.

5:14 PM2/1/2021

U.S. Africa Command forces completed the first engagement into Somalia since the successful repositioning of U.S. forces under Joint Task Force - Quartz Jan. 30.

4:12 PM2/1/2021

The trip occurred during a critical time for Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as both countries navigate paths toward democracy and civilian-led governments. Engagements renewed partnerships between the U.S. and these African nations and provided opportunities to discuss commonalities, shared values, pursue mutual interests, and strengthen the regional capacity of these nations to address security challenges.

4:06 PM2/1/2021

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg discusses with Sudanese military senior leadership security threats in Africa and the need to improve coordination and information sharing between regional partners and the U.S.

4:06 PM2/1/2021

Ambassador Andrew Young, deputy to the Commander for civil-military engagement met with high-level Congolese military and civilian leaders, including President Felix Tshisekedi, Defense Minister Aime Ngoy Mukena, Deputy Minister of Defense Sylvain Mutombo, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the DRC Gen. Célestin Mbala Munsense and DRC general officers. Topics included ongoing professionalization of the military force, rule of law, protection of human rights, military justice, accountability, and promoting security and stability, among other subjects.

4:04 PM2/1/2021

Ambassador Andrew Young, deputy to the Commander for civil-military engagement and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg engage with news media in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Young and Berg's engagements renewed partnerships and discussions centered on commonalities, shared values, mutual interests, and the need to strengthen regional capacity to address security challenges.

9:23 AM1/30/2021

A U.S. Africa Command delegation visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo to demonstrate support for the Congolese commitment to enhancing military professionalism and welcome the countries’ re-established security cooperation relationship, Jan. 27-30.

1:15 PM1/28/2021

U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Embassy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and DRC leaders meet to discuss importance of professional and accountable military forces, the impact of armed terrorist groups and areas for cooperation and support Jan. 28, 2021. “Civilians, Soldiers, and countries need to be connected and work together to bring peace and prosperity to the DRC and region,” said Ambassador Andrew Young, deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement, during the meeting with DRC Deputy Minister of Defense Sylvain Mutombo (second from left), Gen. Celestin Mbala (far left) and Rear Adm. Heidi Berg (right), director of intelligence, U.S. Africa Command.

1:15 PM1/28/2021

U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Embassy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and DRC leaders meet to discuss importance of professional and accountable military forces, the impact of armed terrorist groups and areas for cooperation and support Jan. 28, 2021. “Civilians, Soldiers, and countries need to be connected and work together to bring peace and prosperity to the DRC and region,” said Ambassador Andrew Young, deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement, during the meeting with DRC Deputy Minister of Defense Sylvain Mutombo (left).

10:26 AM1/28/2021

A U.S. Africa Command delegation arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Jan. 27, following a historic visit to Sudan Jan. 25-27.

10:25 AM1/28/2021

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, U.S. Africa Command director of intelligence, meets senior Sudanese officials of Sudan during a series of meetings the week of Jan. 25, 2021. “This week is a significant moment in the resumption of a relationship between our two countries, a relationship based on trust and a mutual commitment to ensuring peace and prosperity in Eastern Africa,” said Berg.

10:21 AM1/28/2021

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, U.S. Africa Command director of intelligence, meets senior Sudanese officials of Sudan during a series of meetings the week of Jan. 25, 2021. “This week is a significant moment in the resumption of a relationship between our two countries, a relationship based on trust and a mutual commitment to ensuring peace and prosperity in Eastern Africa,” said Berg.

10:06 AM1/28/2021

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, U.S. Africa Command director of intelligence, meets Maj. Gen. Osman Siraj, commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Fitness and Sports Directorate, before a series of meetings the week of Jan. 25, 2021. Siraj was the senior Sudanese defense official as part of the meetings, which included Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement Ambassador Andrew Young, to discuss shared objectives including security and stability in East Africa.

4:24 PM1/27/2021

U.S. Africa Command’s Deputy to the U.S. Africa Command Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Director of Intelligence, Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, conducted a historic visit to Sudan to foster cooperative engagement and expand partnership development, Jan. 25-27.

4:08 PM1/27/2021

Ambassador Andrew Young, deputy to the commander for Civil-Military Engagement, meets with Maj. Gen. Yassin Ibrahim Yassin during a series of meetings with key military and government officials the week of Jan. 25, 2021. Young and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, U.S. Africa Command director of intelligence, conducted the trip following Sudan’s historic peace agreement signed on Oct. 3, 2020, to pursue new opportunities for U.S.-Sudanese partnership.