U.S. Africa Command forces stationed in Djibouti conducted an operational and logistics assessment in Gao, Mali, March 3, 2021 (credit: africom.mil) 

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC   TIMES

U.S. Africa Command forces stationed in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa conducted an operational and logistics assessment in Gao, Mali, March 3 with French troops.  According to AFRICOM,  U.S. forces routinely conduct operational and logistics assessments across regions to prepare for contingencies, exercise readiness, and identify areas for improvement. While on the ground in Gao, the U.S. troops met with French troops.  U.S. forces comprised of Combined Joint Task Force  – Horn of Africa. 

“Exercising our forces in this joint readiness event demonstrates our capacity to rapidly respond anywhere across the African continent when the need arises. Our flexible and adaptable response is essential to our ability to protect U.S. personnel and facilities anywhere in Africa and shows we also have capacity to support our partners in the region.”

-said U.S. Africa Command Commander, U.S. Army General Stephen Townsend

AFRICOM said such movements are conducted in order to test the readiness of troops to move long distances on short notice.   In this exercise, troops moved approximately 5,000 kilometers (2,900 miles) across Africa.

U.S. Africa Command forces with French troops stationed in Djibouti conducted an operational and logistics assessment in Gao, Mali, March 3, 2021 (credit: africom.mil) 

“This is a great opportunity to link up with our African and international partners, practice procedures, and deliver great readiness training in a complex security environment,”  Gen. Townsend said. “This training enhances our ability to rapidly respond to a variety of security threats at a moment’s notice.”  The exercise enhances readiness and the ability of U.S. forces to operate in Africa and austere locations,  AFRICOM said.

U.S. Africa Command forces stationed in Djibouti conducted an operational and logistics assessment with 37th Airlift Squadron  in Gao, Mali, March 3, 2021.  (credit: africom.mil

The assessment team is composed of U.S. Army National Guard units from South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Their mission within U.S. Africa Command is to support security cooperation, conduct crisis response and contingency operations, and maintain operational access to promote regional stability.

“The hallmark of professional forces is the quality of their training. It is not enough to train in the U.S. or places we’re familiar. We have to get out into the field to really stretch our abilities and see where we need more practice.” 

-said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora, Combined Joint Task Force -Horn of Africa commander.

Flora noted that Africa poses unique challenges in terms of distance, terrain, environment, and logistics complexity. At more than three times the land area of the U.S., Africa imposes on operations the “tyranny of distance,” said Flora.