African partner land forces chiefs and senior enlisted leaders, partner nation liaison officers,

Please see below for information on the 2021 African Land Forces Summit,
held May 19.

African partner land forces chiefs and senior enlisted leaders, partner
nation liaison officers, National Guard State Partnership Program adjutant
generals and representatives, Multinational Joint Task Force and African
Mission to Somalia commanders, interagency leaders, and senior U.S. military
officials attended the 9th African Land Forces Summit, held May 19. At ALFS,
one of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa’s premier annual
engagements, senior leaders work together in solidifying relationships,
exchanging information on current topics of mutual interest, and encouraging
cooperation in addressing challenges. In accordance with this year’s theme,
“Maintaining security in a degraded environment,” and taking into
consideration the COVID-19 pandemic-related travel limitations and the
health and safety of country delegations, the command organized ALFS 21 as a
one-day virtual event.  

For the published release and photos, visit here:
https://www.setaf-africa.army.mil/pressrelease/29838/alfs-21-us-army-african
-land-force-leadership-discuss-maintaining-security-despite-pandemi

For more on ALFS, visit here:
https://www.setaf-africa.army.mil/document/29826/african-land-forces-summit-
fact-sheet
https://www.setaf-africa.army.mil/document/29825/african-land-forces-summit-
history

Full text:

ALFS 21: US Army, African land force leadership discuss maintaining security
despite pandemic challenges 
By U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa Public Affairs

VICENZA, Italy – African partner land forces chiefs and senior enlisted
leaders, partner nation liaison officers, National Guard State Partnership
Program adjutant generals and representatives, Multinational Joint Task
Force and African Mission to Somalia commanders, interagency leaders, and
senior U.S. military officials attended the 9th African Land Forces Summit,
held May 19. 

The summit theme for 2021, “Maintaining security in a degraded environment,”
highlighted COVID-19-related challenges within the operational environment
and encouraged dialogue to address military pandemic responses, as well as
the pandemic’s effects on current and future operations.

In accordance with the event’s theme and taking into consideration the
COVID-19 pandemic-related travel limitations and the health and safety of
country delegations, the command organized ALFS 21 as a one-day virtual
event.  ALFS, one of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa’s
premier annual engagements, was first held in Washington, D.C., in 2010, but
has been co-hosted by an African nation on the African continent since 2012.

Following opening remarks from Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Rohling, the SETAF-AF
commander, the attendees, including 34 African land forces commanders,
participated in one of four regionally-focused plenary sessions on a virtual
platform. Each plenary session opened with recorded speeches from U.S. Army
Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville, the U.S. Army chief of staff; Gen.
Stephen J. Townsend, the U.S. Africa Command commander; and Gen. Christopher
G. Cavoli, U.S. Army Europe and Africa commanding general. Session
participants then engaged in moderated discussion, which included prepared
remarks from land forces leaders from the region, on topics related to the
event theme. 

In their remarks, McConville, Townsend, Cavoli and Rohling each emphasized
that while the global pandemic has impacted the way ahead for operations, it
has not diminished the U.S. Army’s commitment to supporting its African
partners in ensuring peace and stability on the continent and throughout the
world. 

“We’ve all felt the impact of COVID-19 in our nations and our forces, and we
must all be prepared for continuous change in the strategic environment and
emerging challenges,” McConville said. “I still truly believe that we are in
an age of strategic competition. That said, competition does not have to
mean conflict. What we really want is cooperation and coexistence. Together,
with strong allies and partners, we have many more options collectively than
we do as individual nations to maintain our strength and readiness across
the region.”