Nigeria is among 30 nations participating in Exercise Flintlock 2026, a multinational military initiative aimed at enhancing counterterrorism capabilities, improving interoperability, and reinforcing regional stability across Africa.

Exercise Flintlock 2026, the premier special operations exercise led by United States Africa Command, officially commenced with dual opening ceremonies held in Libya and Côte d’Ivoire.

The exercise brings together approximately 1,500 service members from African and international partner nations, including Nigeria, under a shared objective of strengthening collective readiness and building a resilient security network.

Described as a demonstration of integrated deterrence in action, the exercise emphasises joint operations and cooperation among participating countries. Deputy Commander of United States Africa Command, Lt. Gen. John Brennan, highlighted the initiative’s importance in addressing security challenges on the continent.

“This exercise will forge stronger bonds between all those participating and demonstrate our shared commitments to confronting and degrading terrorism in Africa,” Brennan said.

For the first time, Libya is hosting one of the exercise’s operating locations, where joint forces are training side by side. This development has been made possible through the efforts of the 3+3 Libyan Joint Military Committee, which supports coordination among Libyan forces.

In Libya, training activities in the coastal city of Sirte, co-hosted with Italian Special Forces, focus on enhancing counterterrorism operations and managing a multinational Joint Operations Centre to strengthen regional coordination.

Meanwhile, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire is leading parallel activities, with operations centred in Jacqueville. These include command-and-control exercises directing special operations units through tactical missions designed to address evolving threats.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, the Deputy Commander of the Ivorian Special Forces, Col. Kitchafolwori Sekongo, emphasised the importance of multinational cooperation.

“Your presence here reflects our shared commitment to cooperation, collective security, and peace,” he said, noting that such collaboration strengthens the ability of participating nations to tackle complex security challenges.

Flintlock is designed to build the capacity of African nations to independently manage their security environments.
The exercise will run throughout April, with continued focus on promoting adherence to the rule of law and protecting civilians.