APRIL 17, 2026 — Military forces from Tunisia, the United States and international partner nations officially inaugurated Exercise African Lion 2026, April 13. The multinational engagement in Tunisia, scheduled to conclude April 30, serves as a venue for strengthening regional security cooperation and refining the readiness of participating forces in a complex, global security environment.
Tunisia marks its 10th consecutive year as a host nation for African Lion and is the first of four countries to facilitate the 2026 iteration. Follow-on phases of the exercise are scheduled to begin in Ghana, Morocco and Senegal later this month.
“African Lion 2026 is focused on strengthening readiness across a combined and joint force, advancing shared understanding among partners, and enhancing interoperability in preparation for crisis response,” said Eldridge Browne, chief of exercises for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). “Now in its 10th year of execution in Tunisia, we continue to build on the accomplishments of previous iterations. AL26 reinforces our collective ability to counter terrorism, contribute to regional security, and improve effectiveness across multiple functional areas.”
The exercise demonstrates a significant scale of international integration, with more than 7,000 personnel from more than 30 nations participating across the four host countries. Approximately 560 military personnel are currently operating in Tunisia. NATO allies, including France and Italy, have also joined Tunisian and U.S. forces to conduct synchronized maneuvers.
Training coordinators designed AL26’s curriculum to enhance multinational response capabilities to emerging crises through a series of academic symposiums and field training events. The exercise focuses on integrating combined arms, command post simulations and advanced planning modules to ensure seamless interoperability across diverse military structures.
Core competencies under evaluation include chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense. Under the State Partnership Program, the Wyoming National Guard is conducting joint training with Tunisian forces to mitigate chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the Wyoming-Tunisia partnership.
Training also includes air-to-ground integration, counter-improvised explosive device tactics and special operations maneuvers. AL26 has also prioritized strategic sessions on cyber warfare and security training to address modern digital threats.
The U.S. contingent in Tunisia represents a comprehensive Total Force approach, incorporating active-duty soldiers alongside the National Guard, Army Reserve, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps.
By standardizing procedures and fostering professional military relationships with Tunisian, European and African counterparts, Exercise African Lion 2026 reinforces a collective commitment to regional stability and the principle of peace through strength. As the exercise host, Tunisia showcases its position as a regional leader in exporting stability and addressing shared security concerns.
By Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Mallett