African Lion: US returns to continent with military training exercises

Ahmed Adel

Over the recent decades, terrorist threats have posed a great threat to the African continent, which has prompted the United States to return to the scene in Africa in order to partner with its countries and work together to end terrorist organizations.

African Lion

For his part, Major General Andrew Rohling, deputy commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa, said that the US Army is participating in all parts of Africa to help the ground forces of African countries improve their capabilities. He announced that a large and comprehensive military training exercises will be conducted on June 21, named African Lion, with the participation of several countries.

Five countries in interoperability

Rohling explained during a press conference that the military exercises that will be held next month come as a prelude to building a coalition of military forces that can participate on African soil in the face of the threat of terrorism and will include ground forces from five countries, namely Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Britain, and the United States. The exercises will take place in Morocco with the participation of many other forces to work on what he called “interoperability”, as well as work on other military tactics, techniques and measures.

The American general indicated that the United States is also working to introduce security forces assistance teams, or the Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), which are now operating on the continent. “They are changing the rules of the game against terrorists in countries that pose a threat, and they provide a continuous presence of United States Army forces coupled with ground forces, and in Senegal specifically, there is a Security Forces Assistance Brigade working with the Senegalese Army to improve interoperability, training and capability.

Rohling emphasized that the United States Army in Africa “thinks every day only about maintaining security, prosperity and stability in the African continent”, as well as providing military teams to assist security forces in many countries on the continent, which provide a continuous presence with the main partner countries on the continent, as these forces train with the armies to help improve their capabilities, in addition to conducting many exercises such as training in facing improvised explosive devices and many other forms of training.

US strategy

The general warned of threats and violence in Ghana, as the northern side of the country continues to have threats coming from the coast, “so when we look at this threat, we ask how we help Ghana prepare for violence and make sure that its army is able to deal with these threats when they come,” confirming that US forces will arrive in Ghana soon and will ensure that the Ghanaian army is able to deal with all terrorist threats.

It is noteworthy that the US Department of Defense presented a strategic plan for the US administration to redistribute military requirements and equipment in Africa, which in turn will soon be approved by Congress regarding its military forces around the world, as well as to rearrange those forces and distribute them in a manner that serves its interests.

The Pentagon believes that facing violent extremist organizations in Africa that pose a threat to the United States requires pressuring them in specific parts of Africa, not only on a large scale, but wherever there is an extremist, although specifically those who pose an external threat.

The American presence in Somalia is still very limited, according to many military statements, which stressed that “America’s focus will remain constant and focused on the Somali terrorist movement Al-Shabaab.”