---
title: "US and partner forces kick off annual exercise to better counter violent extremism in Africa"
description: "US special operations forces will train alongside troops from 30 other countries to sharpen intelligence-sharing skills, in order to help better counter violent extremism in the Sahel region."
date: "2020-02-17"
modified: "2020-02-17"
authors:
  - name: "Haley Britzky"
    job_title: "Former Army Reporter"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/haley-britzky/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/africa-flintlock-military-exercise/"
categories:
  - "Africa"
  - "Around the World"
  - "News"
  - "Tactics"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
  - "Training"
---

# US and partner forces kick off annual exercise to better counter violent extremism in Africa

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/22772309-1.jpg>)

U.S. special operations forces linked up with troops from 30 other countries in Africa to start an annual military exercise on Monday to sharpen their intelligence-sharing skills in the face of growing extremism in the Sahel region.

- Flintlock, an exercise that has [taken place since 2005](<https://www.africom.mil/what-we-do/exercises/flintlock>), "brings people together in order to talk and communicate," Air Force Brig. Gen. Dagvin Anderson said last week, [according to Military Times](<https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/02/17/special-operations-forces-kick-off-international-exercise-in-the-sahel-the-tinderbox-of-terrorist-activity/>).
- Over 1,600 troops from more than 30 countries — including Germany, France, Niger, Morocco, and more — plan to participate.
- They hope to improve intelligence sharing abilities, Military Times reports, and "beef up partner nations' capacity to counter violent extremist organizations" in the Sahel.
- The partner forces will focus on "small unit tactics," battle drills, and even conduct a mock investigation to learn how to develop intelligence, per Military Times.
- Violence from extremist groups has grown in West Africa; in the last year alone, hundreds of thousands of people became displaced in Burkina Faso because of extremism.
- "If existing African and international efforts are unable to contain the spread of terrorist groups in the Sahel it certainly presents a looming security challenge beyond the continent," Air Force Col. Chris Karns, spokesman for U.S. Africa Command, told Military Times.
- In January, Defense Secretary Mark Esper didn't rule out the possibility of drawing down troops in Africa, though he said no final decisions had been made.

## Author
Haley Britzky was the Task & Purpose Army reporter from 2019 to 2022. She previously worked at Axios covering breaking news. She reports on important developments within the service, from new uniforms to new policies; the realities of military life facing soldiers and their families; and broader cultural issues that expand outside of the Army, touching each of the military services.Â

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-britzky-b09022a0/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/halbritz>)