African Land Forces Summit
Sponsored by the U.S. Army Chief of Staff and co-hosted by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the Ghana Armed Forces, ALFS 2025 brings together senior leaders from across Africa and other partner nations, April 7-10, 2025, in Accra, Ghana, to address shared security challenges.
ALFS 2025: Optimizing Land Forces for the Emerging Security Environment
ALFS25 Infographic | Press Release | The U.S. Army in Africa
Plenary Session 1: Synchronizing Border Security within Africa
This plenary session will discuss the challenges and opportunities for effective border security management in the context of counter-militant insurgencies and organized crime in Africa.
Moderator: Dr. Geoff Jackson, Mount Royal University
Presenters:
- Rocco Messina, Head, UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), Border Security and Management
- Dr. Emmanuel Wekem Kotia, Major General of the Ghana Armed Forces and Chief Executive of the Ghana Boundary Commission
- Dr. Wafula Okumu, Executive Director, The Borders Institute
Plenary Session 2: Understanding and Responding to Disinformation Threats
This plenary will discuss the rise of disinformation in Africa and how disinformation tactics—often foreign-sponsored—can disrupt military operations, affect soldier morale and public perception of the military.
Moderator: Col. Sean McClure, Senior Military Advisor, Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Presenters:
- Silas Jonathan, Digital Investigations Manager, Centre for Journalism Innovation & Development (CJID) and Head of the Digital Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Information Disorder Analysis Centre (DAIDAC)
- Harriet Ofori, Project Manager at PenPlusBytes
- M. Gueable Herve Zeni, Chef Bureau Cyberdéfense à l'État Major Général des Forces Armées Ivoiriennes
Plenary Session 3: Technology as a Force Multiplier for Combating Contemporary Threats
Moderator: Brig. Gen. Selom Kwasi Amengor
Presenters:
- Col. Kwesi Ayima, Chief Coordinator, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College
- Professor Kester Quist-Aphetsi, Chair of the National Cyber Intelligence and Cyber Defense Research Project
- Lt. Col. Benjamin Adjei, Commander, 93 Signal Regiment, Ghana Army
Plenary Session 4: Leveraging Professional Military Education for Future Operations
This plenary discusses the role of professional military education and training in establishing common operational frameworks, terminology, standards and a shared military culture across the land force.
Moderator: Col. Sean McClure, Senior Military Advisor, Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Presenters:
- Maj. Gen. William Shume, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Innovation and Security Studies, National Defence University - Kenya
- Brig. Gen. Luke Yetala, Chief of Training, Malawi Armed Forces
The African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) is the Chief of Staff of the Army's annual conference supporting U.S. Army activity in Africa.
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