Opening ceremony Kicks off Flintlock 10 Exercise in Republic of Mali

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="BAMAKO, Mali - Republic of Mali and U.S. Special Operations Forces troops stand in formation next to each other during the opening ceremony of the Flintlock 10 Exercise, May 3, 2010, in Bamako, Mali."][/caption]

The U.S. and Mali have started security exercises:

May 4, 2010 — Bamako, Republic of Mali. With ceremonial music playing, formations of troops from the United States and Mali stood next to each other as part of the official ceremony kicking off the Flintlock 10 Exercise, May 2, 2010.

Flintlock, conducted by Special Operations Command Africa's Joint Special Operations Task Force - Trans Sahara, is a joint multinational exercise to improve information sharing at the operational and tactical levels across the Saharan region while fostering increased collaboration and coordination. It is focused on military interoperability and capacity-building for U.S. and European partner nations and select units in Northern and Western Africa.

In her opening remarks during the ceremony, U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Mali Gillian Milovanovic highlighted the significance of this year's Flintlock exercise.
"Recognizing the growing need for cooperation and coordination, this year's Flintlock exercise has grown to include seven African partner nations and an additional five non-African partners," Milovanovic said. "We have found, working with you, that this new security cooperation can, and must, also extend to training for a variety of exigencies, including disaster preparedness and medical emergencies."

She also mentioned this year's Flintlock exercise will include several joint medical operations throughout Mali. During Flintlock 10, U.S. Medical and Veterinary Civic Action programs will be conducted to provide the populations in rural areas health information and basic medical care.

In closing, Milovanovic said, "I would like to observe that the very make-up of this audience provides a powerful symbol of the need for successful military and civilian cooperation as well as a testament to the importance of mutual respect and confidence between our partner nations."

Representing the Mali Ministry of Defense, Assistant Chief of Defense Colonel Béguélé Sioro told the audience the exercise provided a unique opportunity for the Malian troops to train alongside partner nations.

"This exemplary partnership offers the armies of countries in our sub-region the opportunity to evolve alongside seasoned troops, accumulate experience in the fight against criminal organizations and increase our operational effectiveness," Sioro said.
Approximately 1,200 European, African Partner Nation and U.S. participants from 14 nations are involved in military interoperability activities across the Trans-Saharan region during Flintlock 10.

U.S. to expand other Military services in Africa.

Ever since the creation of African Command, the U.S. has been steadily increasing its presence across the continent diplomatically and military due to the increased importance it holds to the U.S.



Major General William Garrett, commander of U.S. Army Africa recently stated that

AFRICOM and U.S. Army Africa focus and apply resources based on policy guidance from the U.S. government. Currently, the top five priorities for U.S. government engagement in Africa are: supporting strong and stable democracies and good governance; fostering sustained economic growth and development; strengthening public health; preventing, mitigating, and resolving armed conflict; and helping to address transnational challenges.

When applying resources, AFRICOM and U.S. Army Africa work shoulder-to-shoulder with our military and non-military partners as part of a larger U.S. and international effort. This comprehensive approach is the best way to prevent the challenges that you mention in your question.

Last October the US had its biggest military exercise to date which aimed to build trust and confront common challenges on the continent.   East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi each sent up to 150 soldiers to join 450 US military personnel in Kitgum, Northern Uganda.  Recently

The deputy commander of U.S. naval forces in Africa says he hopes to expand the Navy's Africa Partnership Station program to involve other U.S. military services.

Admiral Harry Harris says as the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Air Force components for Africa Command become more structured, he hopes they will join the Navy's effort to help build the military capacities of African nations. The admiral told reporters at the Pentagon Tuesday most of the current Africa Partnership Station effort is focused on African naval capabilities, although he said U.S. and partner-nation Navy personnel do some training and construction on land.

He says adding the Army, Marines and Air Force troops would expand the training program, but not change its basic philosophy. "We want to help African nations help themselves solve African problems," said Admiral Harris. "And we don't go in unless we're invited, and we go in with a spirit of full collaboration and partnering with African nations, as well as other countries."

Admiral Harris notes that about 20 countries have participated in the Africa Partnership Station program since it began in 2007, including several European countries and Brazil, as well as about 10 African countries. This year, the program will involve efforts in East, West and Southern Africa, but the admiral says there is so far no plan to expand to Northern Africa.

The Navy program trains African forces in such skills as search and rescue, hostile ship boarding, small boat operations and ship maintenance. This year's West Africa program will include a Nigerian Naval officer as its deputy commander.

Admiral Harris is new to his post, but he says Africa Command is finding much more receptiveness among African nations than it did when it was formed two years ago, and many nations were suspicious of its intentions."

And for the conspiracy minds out there: all your base don't belong to us.

We are not building bases in Africa," he said. "We're not doing those things that the naysayers suggested that we would. Quite the opposite, I believe we're living up to our promise of being a true partner.

Here is a discussion of Africa Command last July at the World Affairs council.