AFRICOM outlines 2026 exercises, counterterrorism work, and efforts to link security with economic investment in Africa

• PromiseAFRICOM schedules African Lion multinational exercise in Morocco for May 2026( due May 01, 2026)
• PromiseFlintlock 2026 planned to be hubbed in Côte d’Ivoire with a Libya spoke and wide partner participation( due Dec 31, 2026)
• TrueU.S. strikes in Puntland described as helping partner forces shrink ISIS-held areas in the Golis Mountains

Key takeaways

• Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson became AFRICOM commander in August 2025 and has visited 11 countries in his first five months to engage partners and assess threats.
• Major 2026 multinational exercises include African Lion (Morocco, spokes in Tunisia, Ghana, Senegal), Cutlass Express (Mozambique and Indian Ocean partners), Justified Accord (Kenya with spokes in Tanzania and Djibouti) and Flintlock (hub in Côte d’Ivoire with a Libya spoke).
• AFRICOM describes counterterrorism cooperation with African partners on threats from ISIS, al-Qaida-affiliated groups (JNIM), and al-Shabaab, including training, intelligence sharing, ISR, resupply and targeted strikes in Somalia.
• U.S. airstrikes and ISR support in Somalia are presented as enabling partner offensives (example: Puntland offensive into the Golis Mountains against Daesh) and shrinking ISIS-held areas, according to AFRICOM leadership and Somali partners.
• AFRICOM is pursuing maritime domain awareness to counter terrorist logistics, smuggling, piracy and illegal fishing across African coasts and sea lanes (Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Gulf of Guinea).
• Leadership emphasized linking security and economic development — citing projects such as the Manda Bay runway and the Lobito Corridor — arguing that security enables investment and prosperity.
• AFRICOM highlighted partnerships with Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti and referred to international efforts like the Aqaba Process in Rome to coordinate responses to threats in West Africa.

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