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ALFS 2023 Closing Ceremony
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) commanding general, thanks Côte d'Ivoire in his closing remarks for co-hosting African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023 and congratulates Zambia for being selected to host ALFS 2024, May 12, 2023 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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Wasmund announces location of 2024 ALFS at closing ceremony
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) commanding general, thanks Côte d'Ivoire in his closing remarks for co-hosting African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023 and congratulates Zambia for being selected to host ALFS 2024, May 12, 2023 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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ALFS23 begins with opening ceremony
African partners participate in the opening ceremony during the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, May 8, 2023. ALFS 2023 brings together senior land forces leaders from across Africa and other partner nations to solidify relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zachery Frost)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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ALFS23 begins with opening ceremony
Maj. Gen. Aly J. Dem, Chief of Staff of the Army, Forces Armées de Côte d'Ivoire (FACI) [Armed Forces of Côte D’Ivoire], speaks at the opening ceremony of the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, May 8, 2023. ALFS 2023 brings together senior land forces leaders from across Africa and other partner nations to solidify relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zachery Frost)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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US, African partners take part in plenary session at ALFS 2023
U.S. and African partners guide a plenary session on command teams during the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, May 11, 2023. Panelists include Maj. Gen. Michael J. Turley and Command Sgt. Maj. Richard G. Thalman from the Utah National Guard; Col. Theophilus A. Dana Jr., and Command Sgt. Maj. William Tabolo from the Armed Forces of Liberia; and Col. Grant Fawcett and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul A. Fedorisin from the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, U.S. Army. ALFS 2023 brings together senior land forces leaders from across Africa and other partner nations to solidify relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zachery Frost)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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ALFS23 begins with opening ceremony
The U.S. and Côte d'Ivoire official party, including Gen. Darryl A. Williams, commander, U.S. Army Europe and Africa and Ambassador Jessica Davis Ba, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and Mr. Téné B. Ouattara, the Minister of Defense for the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, applaud after opening remarks by Maj. Gen. Aly J. Dem, Chief of Staff of the Army, Forces Armées de Côte d'Ivoire (FACI) [Armed Forces of Côte D’Ivoire], during the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023 opening ceremony in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, May 8, 2023. ALFS 2023 brings together senior land forces leaders from across Africa and other partner nations to solidify relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zachery Frost)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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US, African partners tour AILCT during ALFS 2023
Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire soldiers from the l'Académie Internationale de Lutte Contre le Terrorisme (AILCT), display their capabilities against domestic-terrorism during a demonstration showing a hostage rescue scenario for the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, May 9, 2023. Sponsored by the U.S. Army Chief of Staff and co-hosted by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire, ALFS 2023 brings together senior leaders from across Africa and other partner nations, May 8-12, to solidify relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges. This year’s theme is “Addressing security challenges through civil-military partnerships.” (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zachery Frost)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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ALFS wreath laying ceremony
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Patrick C Thibodeau, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and Ivorian army chief of staff Maj. Gen. Justin Aly Dem shake hands after holding a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial honoring the victims of the 2016 terrorist attack in Grand Bassam, Côte D'Ivoire, May 10, 2023. U.S. and Ivorian leaders visited the site during the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023 held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. ALFS 2023 brings together senior land forces leaders from across Africa and other partner nations to solidify relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zachery Frost)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
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ALFS23 plenary sessions begin
U.S. Army Gen. Darryl A. Williams, commanding general, United States Army Europe and Africa, (USAREUR-AF) and Lt. Gen. Sitali Dennis Alibuzwi, commander, Zambia Army, shake hands during the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) 2023 plenary session, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, May 9, 2023. Sponsored by the U.S. Army Chief of Staff and co-hosted by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire, ALFS 2023 brings together senior leaders from across Africa and other partner nations, May 8-12, to solidify relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges. This year’s theme is “Addressing security challenges through civil-military partnerships.” (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zachery Frost)
Photo by: SETAF-Africa Public Affairs
ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE -- U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) along with the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire cohosted the African Land Forces Summit in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, May 8-12, 2023. The summit brought together delegates and land force commanders from 46 total countries; 39 from Africa, five European nations, the US and Brazil. Together with academic thought leaders and government officials, they participated in candid dialogue on current issues facing land forces in Africa.
“Once again, ALFS has demonstrated the power of partnership—between the United States and Africa, with our Allies and partners across the globe, throughout the different regions of this diverse continent, and between military and civilian leaders in and out of government,” said Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund, commanding general, SETAF-AF.
During the week, participants took part in five plenary sessions and small group discussions that covered topics ranging from peacekeeping operations in Africa and countering violent extremist organizations to drivers of instability and stability as well as the importance of command teams.
This year's ALFS also ran parallel discussion groups for senior enlisted leaders, as well as several cultural events that highlighted Ivorian hospitality and culture.
Participants were also taken on a tour of L'Académie Internationale De Lutte Contre (AILCT) [International Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism] that included several demonstrations of counterterrorism operations by Ivorian soldiers. The AILCT provides world-class training to forces from across the region on combating violent extremism in a manner that respects human rights and builds the trust and confidence of populations threatened by terrorism. Lieutenant General Lassina Doumbia, Chief of Defense, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, noted his pride in hosting ALFS 23. “Let me tell you how proud Cote d’Ivoire is of hosting this event,” he said. “It renews the engagement of our countries always to put our solidarity and initiatives together. There is hope for furthering human security."
Wasmund also announced the location for next year's ALFS, which will take place in Zambia and be cohosted with the Zambian Army.
“There’s a lot the participants can look forward to in terms of presentations as well as hospitality that is unmatched that you will find in Zambia,” said Brig. Gen. Jethrow Chipili, Zambian Army.
Sponsored by the U.S. Army Chief of Staff and co-hosted by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire, ALFS 2023 built upon the success of previous summits and continues to bolster U.S. and African security by fostering communication, cooperation and planning among partner nations, exemplifying the U.S. Army’s approach in Africa: partner-led, U.S.-enabled.
SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.
Visit the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) for additional African Land Forces Summit content.
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