AFRICOM, National Guard Leaders Engage in Strategic Dialogue

Photo By Jason Johnston | U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command, speaks at the State Partnership Program (SPP) Adjutant Generals Conference in Nairobi, Kenya May 27, 2025. The SPP Adjutant General Conference unites National Guard Bureau leaders and Adjutant Generals from AFRICOM partner states aligning state-level partnerships with combatant command strategies and solutions to shared challenges across Africa, underscoring the SPP's role in advancing defense objectives and promoting broader military-to-military cooperation. The 2025 African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD25) brings together Chiefs of Defense from 37 African countries, U.S. Naval Forces Africa, Special Operations Command Africa, U.S. Air Forces Africa, and U.S. Army Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. ACHOD25 provides an opportunity for senior military officials from across Africa to discuss topics such as countering transnational threats, strengthening U.S. and African partnerships, as well as fostering expertise-sharing and alliances. ACHOD25 advances regional stability and collective defense, supporting U.S. national security by promoting cost-effective, African-led solutions that minimize direct U.S. military involvement while enhancing global stability. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Jason Johnston, AFRICOM Public Affairs)  

KENYA

05.28.2025

Story by Lt.Cmdr. Bobby Dixon 

U.S. Africa Command

Nairobi, Kenya – U.S. Army Major General Garrick Harmon, Director of Strategy, Plans and Programs, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Major General William Edwards Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, and International Affairs, National Guard Bureau joined leaders from the National Guard units of 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia for a conference to discuss the State Partnership Program on the African continent during the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, on May 27, 2025.

This significant meeting saw representatives from the National Guard engaging on a wide range of topics, underscoring the ongoing commitment to fostering strong military relationships and enhancing security cooperation across the continent. The states and district represented at the conference have established partnerships with various African countries through the State Partnership Program (SPP) that go back decades.

The State Partnership Program (SPP), a Department of Defense program, managed and administered by the National Guard Bureau and executed by US Global Combatant Commands, builds long-term, cooperative relationships between states in the U.S. and countries around the world.

Established in 1993, the SPP has grown to include partnerships with over 100 nations, focusing on building capabilities, improving interoperability, and fostering enduring personal and institutional relationships. The program leverages the unique expertise of the National Guard to address a broad spectrum of security challenges, ranging from disaster response and emergency management to military education and training. The SPP enables partners to share the burden for security through increasing their readiness with events focused on specific areas which National Guard units can assist. This also increases the National Guard units’ readiness to better prepare them for their wartime missions.

Within the African continent, the SPP plays a pivotal role in strengthening regional stability and security. The partnerships are tailored to meet the specific needs of each nation, providing a framework for mutual learning and collaboration. Through joint exercises, training programs, and strategic dialogues, the SPP helps to build the defense capabilities of partner countries, enhancing their ability to respond to both traditional and non-traditional security threats.

List of States in Kenya who participated and their African partners:

California National Guard - Nigeria
District of Columbia National Guard - Burkina Faso
Indian National Guard - Niger
Kentucky National Guard - Djibouti
Massachusetts National Guard – Kenya
Michigan National Guard - Sierra Leone/Liberia
Nebraska National Guard - Rwanda and Tanzania
New Hampshire National Guard - Cabo Verde
North Carolina National Guard - Malawi, Zambia, and Botswana
North Dakota National Guard - Ghana, Benin, and Togo
Utah National Guard - Morocco
Vermont National Guard - Senegal
West Virginia National Guard - Gabon
Wyoming National Guard - Tunisia

The conference in Kenya served as a testament to the enduring value and impact of these partnerships, as National Guard leaders and worked together to discuss common challenges and explore new opportunities for cooperation with their African partners.

U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, is one of 11 U.S. Department of Defense combatant commands, each with a geographic or functional mission that provides command and control of military forces in peace and war. U.S. Africa Command employs the broad-reaching diplomacy, development, and defense approach to foster interagency efforts and help negate the drivers of conflict and extremism in Africa.

For more information, visit our website, Facebook and Twitter pages, or contact U.S. Africa Command Media Relations at [e-mail]

• Date Taken: 05.28.2025
• Date Posted: 06.09.2025 05:51
• Story ID: 499812
• Location: KE