At least 1,600 soldiers from more than 30 African and partner nations are expected to participate in Exercise Flintlock 2020 at multiple locations in Mauritania and Senegal. The military exercise is slated to take place between 17 to 28 February.
According to AFRICOM’s commander U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, Flintlock is a crucial military exercise that is geared at building the capabilities of participating militaries, improve their readiness as well as enable the troops to adopt a universal international approach to dealing with challenges and threats caused by terrorist and armed groups.
The exercise is designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organizations, protect their borders, and provide security for their people. Participating African nations include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.
Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enforcement exercise that has strengthened key partner-nation forces throughout North and West Africa as well as Western Special Operations Forces since 2005, US Africa Command said. Flintlock is U.S. Africa Command’s premier and largest annual Special Operations Forces exercise.
