1:06 PM8/7/2024

Botswana Defence Force Col. David Nkete, lead exercise planner with the BDF, provides remarks during the opening ceremony of exercise Southern Accord 2024 in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 5, 2024. Southern Accord 2024 is a bi-annual joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). Running from Aug. 5-15, the exercise brings together U.S. Army and Air Force personnel and Botswana Defence Force counterparts to conduct a variety of training to include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation. The exercise is designed to enhance bilateral military capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Richard Dickson)

1:06 PM8/7/2024

Seth Henderson, lead exercise planner for Southern Accord 2024, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), sits with Botswana Defence Force partners during the opening ceremony of the exercise in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 5, 2024. Southern Accord 2024 is a bi-annual joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by SETAF-AF. Running from Aug. 5-15, the exercise brings together U.S. Army and Air Force personnel and Botswana Defence Force counterparts to conduct a variety of training to include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, as well as peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation. The exercise is designed to enhance bilateral military capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros)

1:06 PM8/7/2024

U.S. Army Col. Mark Whiteman, senior defense official and defense attaché with U.S. Embassy Gaborone, provides remarks during the opening ceremony of exercise Southern Accord 2024 in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 5, 2024. Southern Accord 2024 is a bi-annual joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). Running from Aug. 5-15, the exercise brings together U.S. Army and Air Force personnel and Botswana Defence Force counterparts to conduct a variety of training to include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation. The exercise is designed to enhance bilateral military capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Richard Dickson)

1:06 PM8/7/2024

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Thanh Kim, theater sustainment planner with the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, sits with Botswana Defence Force partners during the opening ceremony of the exercise in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 5, 2024. Southern Accord 2024 is a bi-annual joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). Running from Aug. 5-15, the exercise brings together U.S. Army and Air Force personnel and Botswana Defence Force counterparts to conduct a variety of training to include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, as well as peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation. The exercise is designed to enhance bilateral military capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros)

1:06 PM8/7/2024

Botswana Defence Force Lance Cpl. Malebogo Mojaeti, an aircraft mechanic, and U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jerri Edwards, bilateral affairs noncommissioned officer at U.S. Embassy Gaborone, pose for a photo during the opening ceremony of exercise Southern Accord 2024 in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 5, 2024. Southern Accord 2024 is a bi-annual joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). Running from Aug. 5-15, the exercise brings together U.S. Army and Air Force personnel and Botswana Defence Force counterparts to conduct a variety of training to include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, as well as peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation. The exercise is designed to enhance bilateral military capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros)

1:06 PM8/7/2024

U.S. Army Col. Mark Whiteman, senior defense official and defense attaché with U.S. Embassy Gaborone, speaks with U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Porter, deputy chief of exercises (G7), U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), during the opening ceremony of the exercise in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 5, 2024. Southern Accord 2024 is a bi-annual joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by SETAF-AF. Running from Aug. 5-15, the exercise brings together U.S. Army and Air Force personnel and Botswana Defence Force counterparts to conduct a variety of training to include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, as well as peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation. The exercise is designed to enhance bilateral military capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros)

1:06 PM8/7/2024

Botswana Defence Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Eno Seelo, deputy commander of the BDF, provides remarks during the opening ceremony of exercise Southern Accord 2024 in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 5, 2024. Southern Accord 2024 is a bi-annual joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). Running from Aug. 5-15, the exercise brings together U.S. Army and Air Force personnel and Botswana Defence Force counterparts to conduct a variety of training to include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, as well as peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation. The exercise is designed to enhance bilateral military capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros)

1:06 PM8/7/2024

GABORONE, Botswana — Exercise Southern Accord 2024 officially began on August 5, 2025, launching a two-week joint military exercise between U.S. and Botswana forces. The opening ceremony in Gaborone marked the start of a comprehensive training operation aimed at enhancing bilateral military cooperation and readiness. Sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), Southern Accord is a joint bi-annual exercise that unites U.S. Army and Air Force personnel with their Botswana Defence Force (BDF) counterparts. The exercise focuses on conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, peacekeeping missions and aeromedical evacuations, all while enhancing multinational military capabilities and interoperability.

12:00 AM8/2/2024

AFRICOM recently hosted the Joint Staff 2024 Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) Worldwide Workshop, a key event in the Joint Logistics Enterprise calendar.

2:31 PM7/29/2024

At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike against al Shabaab terrorists on July 15.

10:27 AM7/24/2024

10:27 AM7/24/2024

10:20 AM7/24/2024

U.S. Marine Corps Gen Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command wrapped up his second visit to Algeria on July 23, 2024.

10:06 AM7/22/2024

9:59 AM7/22/2024

10:14 AM7/18/2024

10:03 AM7/18/2024

10:35 AM7/9/2024

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III taxis down the runway following a ceremony marking the official turnover of the U.S. compound at Air Base 101 in Niamey, Niger. This Nigerien base has housed U.S. personnel and assets to help counter violent extremist organizations in the region. With the closure of the U.S. compound on Air Base 101, U.S. forces will now focus on completing the withdrawal from Air Base 201 in Agadez. (Photo by USAF Maj. Sandy Van Den Mooter)

10:35 AM7/9/2024

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III taxis down the runway following a ceremony marking the official turnover of the U.S. compound at Air Base 101 in Niamey, Niger. This Nigerien base has housed U.S. personnel and assets to help counter violent extremist organizations in the region. With the closure of the U.S. compound on Air Base 101, U.S. forces will now focus on completing the withdrawal from Air Base 201 in Agadez. (Photo by USAF Maj. Sandy Van Den Mooter)