African Lion 25: the largest multinational military exercise in Africa kicks off

VICENZA/TUNIS – "African Lion 25", the largest military exercise ever organized by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), officially began on April 22, 2025, in Tunisia. The event, which will continue until April 30 in the North African country, will subsequently involve Ghana, Morocco, and Senegal starting in May, bringing together over 10,000 military personnel from more than 40 nations, including seven NATO allied nations.

The exercise is led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), based in Vicenza, and aims to strengthen interoperability, operational readiness, and strategic partnerships through realistic training in land, air, maritime, space, and cyber domains.

"African Lion 25 represents AFRICOM's largest combined multinational exercise in Africa," said Major General Andrew C. Gainey, commander of SETAF-AF. "It demonstrates the total force's ability to build strategic readiness and interoperability with our African partners and allies, to be ready to deploy, fight, and win in a complex multi-domain environment."

Main activities planned include field exercises, airborne and amphibious operations, special forces operations, rapid insertion of HIMARS systems (HIRAIN), humanitarian assistance, and medical readiness interventions. Particular attention will also be given to new operational capabilities, such as the integration of cyber defense and the use of the U.S. Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW).

Training, new technologies, and operational capabilities

In Tunisia, over 1,700 military personnel – American, Tunisian, Italian, French, and Spanish – will work side by side, while Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, and Senegal will participate with their own forces, highlighting the joint commitment towards shared regional security goals.

The exercise is not limited to field operations: during AL25, theoretical courses on military engineering, cybersecurity, legal affairs, public relations techniques, and operational media will be held. The objective is to consolidate familiarity with the latest technologies and specialized techniques, under the supervision of Tunisian and American instructors.

A distinctive element of African Lion 25 is the participation of the Wyoming National Guard, which will intervene with its 84th Civil Support Team as part of the State Partnership Program (SPP), active for over twenty years with Tunisia. In particular, the team will train in managing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, thus strengthening rapid emergency response capabilities.

The program also includes air-ground integration activities, training against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and the use of advanced systems such as the HIMARS missile system. Airborne operations with the 173rd Airborne Brigade will not be lacking, highlighting the importance of rapid deployment capability with allied forces.

Strategic partnerships and commitment to regional stability

African Lion 25 confirms Tunisia as a key partner of the United States, being one of the four main non-NATO allies in Africa. Bilateral cooperation is also reflected in the provision of advanced defense systems, such as UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, C-130 transport aircraft, and Island-class patrol boats.

“The solid partnership between the United States and Tunisia makes events of such magnitude possible,” emphasized Colonel Jörn Pung, Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis. "African Lion represents a crucial opportunity to share the burden of security responsibilities, improve military readiness, and contribute to regional stability."

In addition to courses and exercises, AL25 aims to enhance the participating forces' ability to respond to crises, emergencies, and cross-border threats, once again underscoring the collective commitment to peace through strength.

With Tunisia as the first host country, followed by Ghana, Morocco, and Senegal, African Lion 25 is poised to mark a turning point in international military cooperation in Africa, laying solid foundations for jointly addressing future security challenges.