U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), in close partnership with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), officially launched Exercise Southern Accord 2026 with an opening ceremony at Gaborone Technical College. The biennial joint bilateral exercise, running from August 10 to August 15, 2026, gathers U.S. and Botswanan military personnel to enhance regional security, foster mutual operational readiness and increase the self-reliance of African partner armed forces.
This year’s iteration centers on a complex Staff Exercise (STAFFEX) structured around a notional multi-domain threat scenario to refine joint planning capabilities. Beyond tactical unit maneuvers, the 2026 framework convenes military and civil planners from USAFRICOM, the BDF, the United States Space Force and the North Carolina National Guard—leveraging an established 18-year alliance under the State Partnership Program.
Throughout the six-day deployment, joint military personnel will apply the formal Joint Planning Process (JPP) across dedicated syndicates. Operational focus areas include defensive cyber operations, military space operations, intelligence sharing, rehearsal of concept (ROC) drills and staff planning exercises. The military engagement also features a Medical Civil Action Program (MEDCAP) aimed at delivering humanitarian medical care to local civilian communities.
USAFRICOM Commander, U.S. Air Force General Dagvin Anderson, highlighted that shared security challenges transcend national borders, making collaborative training critical for developing trust and supporting African-led security solutions. Echoing these sentiments, BDF Director General Support Services, Major General Molefi Seikano, stated that contemporary security realities demand synchronized responses and strong international partnerships, noting that joint operations provide valuable mutual insights into regional technical innovations and operational realities.
USAFRICOM has conducted the Southern Accord series across Southern Africa since 2010, with the previous iteration hosted in Botswana in 2024. As one of seven U.S. geographic combatant commands tasked with military engagements across 53 African nations, USAFRICOM uses Exercise Southern Accord 2026 to reinforce long-term defence cooperation with Botswana, advance shared regional security objectives and build response readiness across the continent.
