US, Botswana Defence Forces kick off exercise Southern Accord 2024
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.