Beginning next month, US Army divisions in Africa will train with their African partners.
The armed forces of Botswana, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia will participate in the exercise, code-named “Justified Accord,” beginning later this month.
According to the U.S. Army’s Southern European Task Force – Africa, Justified Accord 2023 (J23) is designed to “enhance multinational interoperability in crisis response and counterterrorism operations and prepare regional partners for missions on behalf of the United Nations and the African Union.”
The exercise includes live-fire and naval exercises, a cyber course, field exercises and special operations.
According to the U.S. Army Africa Command, about 800 participants from 20 partner nations, including six African countries, will take part in the exercise.
Most of the activities will take place in Nairobi and Isiolo in Kenya, with additional activities in Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana and Djibouti.
Last week, U.S. Joint Task Force personnel for the Horn of Africa travelled to the port of Berbera in Somaliland for a sighting.
“The U.S. military routinely surveys potential deployment locations to prepare for contingencies and to practise readiness or adjust force levels accordingly,” the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement.
The 10-day exercise is designed to help the U.S. Army in Africa and East African participants improve their ability to respond to regional security threats posed by violent extremist organisations and more effectively counter the ideology associated with them.
It also helps forge partnerships with U.S. Army Africa and East African forces. Meanwhile, Exercise Obangame Express 2023 (OE23) – the largest multinational maritime exercise in West and Central Africa – will kick off its 12th year with an opening ceremony Jan. 23 in Lagos, Nigeria, with 29 nations participating.
A statement from the U.S. Marines in Europe and Africa said OE23 serves to enhance regional cooperation, information sharing and tactical interdiction procedures to improve the collective capabilities of participating nations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other illicit activities at sea.
To ensure the sustainable use of marine resources and promote the security and stability of international maritime commerce, the United States Africa Command supports its African partners in defending their maritime economies.
The following African countries will participate: Angola, Benin, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and the Economic Community of West African States and the Economic Community of Central African States.