Military forces from Tunisia, the United States, and several international partner nations officially commenced Exercise African Lion 2026 in Tunisia on April 13, 2026. This initial phase of the multinational engagement is scheduled to continue through April 30 and functions as the primary platform for enhancing regional security cooperation.
Tunisia is currently hosting the exercise for its 10th consecutive year. It is the first of four countries to host this year’s iteration, with subsequent phases planned for Ghana, Morocco, and Senegal later in April-May. According to the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and AFRICOM, the exercise involves more than 5,000 personnel from over 40 nations. Approximately 560 military personnel are presently operating at Tunisian sites, including the Ben Ghilouf Training Center.
Forces from Tunisia and the United States are joined by NATO allies France and Italy to conduct synchronized maneuvers. The training schedule encompasses academic symposiums, field training events, and command post simulations focused on countering terrorism and enhancing crisis response. The U.S. contingent in Tunisia employs a Total Force approach, integrating active-duty soldiers with the National Guard, Army Reserve, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. A central component of this year’s training involves the Wyoming National Guard, which is conducting joint chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defence operations with Tunisian partners, aiming to establish a more resilient security architecture across the Mediterranean and Maghreb regions. This collaboration marks the 22nd anniversary of the state partnership between Wyoming and Tunisia.
Technical drills during this phase emphasize air-to-ground integration and counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) tactics. Special operations maneuvers and strategic sessions on cyber warfare are also prioritized to address contemporary digital threats. These modules aim to standardize procedures among diverse military structures, ensuring effective communication and operational coordination during joint missions.
The exercise has significantly evolved since its inception as a bilateral event between U.S. Marines and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces in 2004. It now serves as the principal annual exercise for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). Although the 2020 and 2021 iterations experienced cancellations or severe disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scale has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with personnel counts consistently exceeding 7,000 since 2022.
A notable technical milestone was achieved during the 2025 iteration when the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defence Artillery Regiment deployed the Avenger air defense system in Tunisia. The Avenger is a self-propelled, short-range surface-to-air missile system mounted on a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). Its deployment marked the inaugural operation of the system within the African Lion framework in North Africa, providing mobile defense against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and low-flying aircraft.
The current 2026 maneuvers expand upon these previous technical achievements by integrating combined arms live-fire exercises and joint forcible entry drills. Testing these capabilities in the North African climate and terrain enables participating units to identify logistics and maintenance gaps that may remain inconspicuous in European or North American training environments.
These exercises underscore Tunisia’s role as a regional leader in exporting stability. The emphasis on “interoperability” facilitates preparation for “gray zone” challenges and conventional threats alike. As the Tunisian phase concludes, equipment and personnel will transition to larger-scale live-fire events and maritime exercises scheduled for Morocco from April 27 to May 8, 2026. This progression will evaluate SETAF-AF’s capacity to manage complex logistics across multiple sovereign borders within a condensed timeline.