--- 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.md" 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 ![]() 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](), "brings people together in order to talk and communicate," Air Force Brig. Gen. Dagvin Anderson said last week, [according to Military Times](). - 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. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Twitter]() ## More - [US looks to West Africa as new hub for counter-terrorism mission after leaving Niger, Chad]() - [2 years after the Niger ambush, the US reportedly plans on ramping up counterterrorism efforts in the region]() - [US resumes some drone operations in Niger for force protection]() - [US troops are quietly helping fight ISIS, al-Qaida in West Africa]() - [The US can’t use its $110 million drone base in Niger]() - [Are extremism and violent crime rising among veterans, or are we just seeing more of it?]() - [After Niger withdrawal, Chad may want U.S. troops to leave]() - [US plans to create ‘drone academy’ in Morocco amid strategy shift]()