Ghana hosts 13th Africa Land Forces Summit to address security challenges
Land force commanders from more than 40 African countries, 300 personnel, academics, and other government leaders from partner nations converged on Ghana’s capital, Accra, for the 13th African land forces summit to tackle emerging security threats.
The annual summit of the United States and African army chiefs to discuss challenges and opportunities impacting land forces in Africa is themed Optimizing Land Forces for the Emerging Security Environment.
Senior land force leaders from African nations will have the opportunity to build and strengthen relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest, and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges.
51 Countries
More than 300 senior military officers from 51 countries across the world including 40 African countries, the United States of America (US), and 10 European countries participated in the 2025 African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) to discuss cross-border security, professional military education, military technology, misinformation and disinformation.
The five-day summit was co-hosted by the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). This year’s ALFS aims to foster dialogue, collaboration, and strategic planning among African military leaders and their international partners.
With the establishment of the United States Army Africa (USARAF) in 2008, leaders quickly recognised the importance of establishing relationships with chiefs of land forces from partner nations in Africa.
USARAF realised the best way to achieve this goal was to conduct a summit solely for African partner nations’ chiefs of land forces.
Inaugural summit
The inaugural African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) was held in Washington, DC, in May 2010.
The theme for the first summit was “Building and Maintaining Strong Relationships,” and was attended by the United States Army Chief of Staff as the guest of honour, as well as 23 chiefs of land forces from African partner nations.
The main issues of discussion at the 2010 summit focused on the role of land forces in the current security environment, building relationships with the leadership of countries that represent common interests, and the responsibility of military leaders to democratic governments.
Finally, the participants of the first ALFS agreed to conduct a summit every other year, but more importantly, they decided to hold all future summits on the continent of Africa.
The Ugandan Chief of Land Forces agreed to host the first African continent-based summit in Kampala, Uganda in 2012.
The theme for the second ALFS was “The Strength of an Army for the Nation and Its People.”
The guest of honour was the commanding general of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and 35 chiefs of land forces from African partner nations attended the summit.
Strengthening Army values
At the 2012 summit, participant nations addressed strengthening Army values, and also preparation for crisis and conflict. After the Uganda summit, other African countries followed and notable among them are Senegal (2015), Tanzania (2016), Malawi (2017), Nigeria (2018), Botswana (2019), Ethiopia (2020), US (2022), Cote d'Ivoire (2023), and Zambia (2024).
The ninth African Land Forces Summit occurred at a monumental moment in the history of the world, as well as the history of the US Army in Africa in October 2020, the Army consolidated US Army Europe with US Army Africa to synergize resources and effects across the two continents.
Under the 2025 theme of Optimizing Land Forces for the Emerging Security Environment, senior land force leaders from African nations will have the opportunity to build and strengthen relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest, and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges.
Ambassador Palmer
“It is critically important that we adapt and strengthen our armed forces to confront the evolving threats that seek to undermine and destabilise our countries and regions. Ghana remains an exporter of security, and a key democratic model as violent extremism threatens this region’s stability and prosperity”.
“The United States is proud to co-host the African Land Forces Summit with Ghana and of our partnerships across the African continent in support of this endeavour,” said US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer.
“The African Land Forces Summit is essential to building innovative solutions to address shared security challenges,” said Major General Andrew C. Gainey, Commanding General, SETAF-AF.“
I want to extend my thanks to our co-hosts, the Ghana Armed Forces, for their exceptional partnership.
They have set the stage for a successful summit, and I look forward to a productive and impactful week with all our guests.”
Shared commitment
“The gathering is a testament to our shared commitment to security and the enduring partnerships between our nations.
Through this forum, senior leaders of land forces across Africa, the United States and partner nations have come together to solidify our relationships, exchange information, and advance cooperation.
“The United States is proud of our partnerships across Africa in support of this endeavour.
In Ghana, whether through multinational exercises such as African Lion, Flintlock, or Obangame Express, or our very own Security Force Assistance Brigade and Civil Affairs teams, we see the fruits of these critical efforts play out every day”.
“The State Partnership Program, led by the North Dakota National Guard, celebrated 20 years of partnership in 2024.
This long-standing collaboration is a testament to the strength and resilience of US and Ghanaian forces working side-by-side to confront our shared challenges”.
The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration between the Ghana Army and the United States Army through the Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF).
“Ghana cherishes the strong bond of friendship and cooperation between the US and Ghana.
“As a country, we seek to deepen that relationship as well as similar ones with other friendly countries for our mutual benefit and stress the importance of innovation”, he urged the participants to generate pioneering ideas to address both global and local threats, including those unique to Ghana such as youth unemployment and environmental degradation.
