USAF C-130 supports Flintlock 2020

Above: US Air Force Airmen assigned to the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (EAS), prepare for flight of a C-130J Super Hercules, East Africa, Djibouti, 17th February 2019. The 75th EAS provides tactical airlift to support and sustain units across Africa.
Courtesy US Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachelle Coleman

Flintlock - which opened in Atar on Friday 17th February - is US Africa Command’s premier and largest annual Special Operations Forces exercise.

This year, Flintlock is being hosted by key outstations at Mauritania and Senegal, with the other African nations participating including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. The international partners include Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The exercise is designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organisations, protect their borders and provide security for their people.

Additionally, the exercise bolsters partnerships between African, US and Western nation SOF and law enforcement agencies, increasing their ability to work together during ongoing multinational operations and in response to crises.

There will be a  closing ceremony in Nouakchott on 28th February.