USARAF, African senior military leaders discuss partnership, security cooperation



By U.S. Army Africa Public Affairs Jun 24, 2020

VICENZA, Italy -- Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier, the U.S. Army Africa commander, conducted phone or video teleconference meetings with senior military leaders from Botswana, Djibouti, Morocco and Tunisia, as well as Ghana and Senegal, June 10 and 11, respectively. Cloutier introduced Maj. Gen. Andrew Rohling, the incoming USARAF commander, to each senior leader and affirmed USARAF’s ongoing partnership.

 

Botswana

During the meeting with Maj. Gen. Molefi Seikano, the Botswana Land Forces commander, Cloutier commended Botswana’s whole-of-government approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing the Botswana Defence Force’s supporting role. He also acknowledged the BDF’s ongoing counter-poaching efforts.

Djibouti

Cloutier expressed appreciation to Brig. Gen. Ali Mohamed Taher, the Djibouti Armed Forces deputy chief of defense, for hosting U.S. forces and emphasized continued partnership and commitment to Djibouti’s Rapid Intervention Battalion.

Ghana

In his conversation with Maj. Gen. Thomas Oppong-Peprah, the Ghanaian chief of army staff, Cloutier applauded Ghanaian Armed Forces for their role as a leading troop-contributing country within United Nations peacekeeping, and recognized their role in regional security efforts in West Africa.

Morocco

Cloutier thanked Gen. Belkhir El Farouk, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces Southern Zone commander, for Morocco’s assistance in redeploying personnel and equipment after the African Lion exercise was canceled as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. Cloutier and Farouk discussed future plans for the African Lion exercise scheduled for 2021.

Senegal

Cloutier and Brig. Gen. Fulgence Ndour, the Senegalese chief of army staff, discussed the United Accord exercise that is slated for September. The exercise prioritizes relationship building and increasing readiness in support of U.N. and African Union mandates in West Africa.

Tunisia

In his discussion with Brig. Gen. Mohamed El Ghoul, the Tunisian Army chief of staff, Cloutier discussed Tunisian involvement in the regional exercise African Lion 2021 and future security cooperation events planned with U.S. Army Africa.

 

 

 

More in Media Room
What Army Heritage Means To Me
Victoria Bracey, an 8th grader at Vicenza Middle School, won the Vicenza Military Community Army Heritage Month Essay contest.
Read more
2nd SFAB Advises Members of the Tunisian Armed Forces
BEN GHILOUF, Tunisia—Eighteen nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 23, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in multiple countries to include Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023.
Read more
ALFS 2023 continues senior enlisted leader program
Originally intended to bring together African land force chiefs, or a country’s equivalent of the chief of staff of the Army, as the event has matured, so has its scope. In 2017, SETAF-AF and co-host Malawi first extended invitations to command senior enlisted leaders and their inclusion has continued for all subsequent summits.
Read more
More in Media Room
What Army Heritage Means To Me
Victoria Bracey, an 8th grader at Vicenza Middle School, won the Vicenza Military Community Army Heritage Month Essay contest.
Read more
2nd SFAB Advises Members of the Tunisian Armed Forces
BEN GHILOUF, Tunisia—Eighteen nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 23, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in multiple countries to include Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023.
Read more
ALFS 2023 continues senior enlisted leader program
Originally intended to bring together African land force chiefs, or a country’s equivalent of the chief of staff of the Army, as the event has matured, so has its scope. In 2017, SETAF-AF and co-host Malawi first extended invitations to command senior enlisted leaders and their inclusion has continued for all subsequent summits.
Read more
More in Media Room
What Army Heritage Means To Me
Victoria Bracey, an 8th grader at Vicenza Middle School, won the Vicenza Military Community Army Heritage Month Essay contest.
Read more
2nd SFAB Advises Members of the Tunisian Armed Forces
BEN GHILOUF, Tunisia—Eighteen nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 23, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in multiple countries to include Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023.
Read more
ALFS 2023 continues senior enlisted leader program
Originally intended to bring together African land force chiefs, or a country’s equivalent of the chief of staff of the Army, as the event has matured, so has its scope. In 2017, SETAF-AF and co-host Malawi first extended invitations to command senior enlisted leaders and their inclusion has continued for all subsequent summits.
Read more