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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
Members of the Libyan 3+3 Joint Military Committee stand together with senior leaders from Italy and the U.S. to render salutes during the closing ceremony of exercise Flintlock 26 in Sirte, Libya, April 29, 2026. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Katelynn Moeller)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Katelynn Moeller
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
Ivorian Maj. Gen. Aly Dem, Armed Forces of Cote d’Ivoire Deputy Chief of Defense, gives his remarks during exercise Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Cote d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trenton Jancze)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Trenton Jancze
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
Multinational leaders watch a demonstration of a vehicle interdiction during exercise Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. The demonstration highlighted tactics codified during Flintlock 26, integrating small unmanned aircraft systems and local law enforcement to meet shared security objectives. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Frazier)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Frazier
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
Ivorian special operations soldiers apprehend an enemy combatant during a vehicle interdiction demonstration during Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. The demonstration highlighted tactics codified during Flintlock 26, integrating small unmanned aircraft systems and local law enforcement to meet shared security objectives. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Edgar Martinez)
Photo by: Spc. Edgar Martinez
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
(Left) Ivorian Maj. Gen. Aly Dem, Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire Deputy Chief of Defense, and (Right) U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen Claude Tudor, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa commander, shake hands during exercise Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Frazier)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Frazier
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
A U.S. Green Beret assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) observes exercise Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony demonstration in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. The demonstration highlighted tactics codified during Flintlock 26, integrating small unmanned aircraft systems and local law enforcement to meet shared security objectives. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Edgar Martinez)
Photo by: Spc. Edgar Martinez
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
Ivorian Gendarmerie conducts sensitive site exploitation following a vehicle interdiction demonstration during Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. The demonstration highlighted tactics codified during Flintlock 26, integrating small unmanned aircraft systems and local law enforcement to meet shared security objectives. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Edgar Martinez)
Photo by: Spc. Edgar Martinez
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
(Left) Ivorian Maj. Gen. Aly Dem, Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire Deputy Chief of Defense, and (Right) Richard C. Michaels, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, enter exercise Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Frazier)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Frazier
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
A U.S. Green Beret assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Ivorian special operations soldiers suppress an enemy vehicle during a vehicle interdiction demonstration during Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. The demonstration highlighted tactics codified during Flintlock 26, integrating small unmanned aircraft systems and local law enforcement to meet shared security objectives. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Edgar Martinez)
Photo by: Spc. Edgar Martinez
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
Ivorian special operations soldiers clear an enemy vehicle during a vehicle interdiction demonstration during Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. The demonstration highlighted tactics codified during Flintlock 26, integrating small unmanned aircraft systems and local law enforcement to meet shared security objectives. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Edgar Martinez)
Photo by: Spc. Edgar Martinez
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
A U.S. Green Beret assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) provides suppressive fire during a vehicle interdiction demonstration during Flintlock 26’s closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. The demonstration highlighted tactics codified during Flintlock 26, integrating small unmanned aircraft systems and local law enforcement to meet shared security objectives. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Edgar Martinez)
Photo by: Spc. Edgar Martinez
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Flintlock 2026 Concludes, Advancing African-Led Command and Multidomain Integration Across 30+ Nations
An Ivorian special forces soldier performs canopy maneuvers during the Flintlock 26 closing ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire, April 30, 2026. Since 2005, Flintlock has served as U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual special operations exercise. This year’s exercise brought together more than 30 countries across Côte d’Ivoire and Libya to build lethality and readiness, strengthen counterterrorism skills and increase collaboration across borders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Frazier)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Frazier
JACQUEVILLE, Côte d’Ivoire – Exercise Flintlock 2026 concluded this week, bringing together 1,500 service members from more than 30 partner nations for comprehensive military training. Hosted concurrently in Côte d'Ivoire and Libya, the exercise focused on improving tactical proficiency, military integration and African-led responses to shared security challenges.
“Terrorist threats know no borders and can only be contained through a shared will,” said Ivorian Maj. Gen. Aly Dem, Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire Deputy Chief of Defense. “For where uncertainty prevails, decision must emerge; where threats hide, clarity must prevail; and where the adversary seeks to divide, unity of action must stand firm.”
Flintlock enabled partner nations to practice working together in a structured environment, building the foundational skills required for coordinated, multinational operations and regional security cooperation. The exercise was anchored by an African-led headquarters staff.
Beyond the enduring efforts in Côte d'Ivoire, this iteration saw the establishment of a joint operations center in Libya. Inside the JOC, Libyan joint forces, alongside partner and allied nations, focused on collaborative planning and coordination.
Throughout the exercise, participants in both locations focused on integrating multidomain capabilities into operational planning. Training scenarios required the incorporation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance techniques with small unmanned aircraft systems, as well as emphasized information operations and adherence to international law.
Additionally, the exercise prioritized the integration of military and civil authorities. Training scenarios required military forces and law enforcement elements to work together, leading to a "legal finish", ensuring that tactical actions are appropriately transitioned to judicial systems in accordance with the rule of law.
“Beyond the scenarios, Flintlock has above all strengthened an irreplaceable strategic asset: trust among the forces engaged,” said Dem.
By bringing 30 nations together to practice multi-domain operations and joint command, Flintlock provided a unique opportunity to expand the relationships, bolster interoperability and enhance the special operations readiness required to address regional security challenges.
“Flintlock sends a clear message to any who seeks to destabilize this region: our united network is our greatest asymmetric advantage,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Claude Tudor, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa commander. “It is built on shared values, mutual respect and the rule of law.”
