Military forces from Tunisia and partner nations commenced exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Tunisia on April 22, 2025. This multinational exercise, scheduled through April 30, strengthens military readiness and enhances participating nations’ ability to operate in a complex security environment.
Tunisia is hosting African Lion for the eighth consecutive year, making it the first of four nations to host events during AL25, with activities in Ghana, Morocco, and Senegal set to start in May.
“We deeply value our enduring partnership with Tunisia,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Al Alawaj, division chief of exercises for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the lead planning unit for AL25. “This exercise serves as a critical opportunity to strengthen burden-sharing among allies and partners, enhance U.S. and partner military readiness, and support our overarching strategic objective of defending the homeland by maintaining the capability to respond to threats in complex, austere environments.”
While more than 1,700 military personnel will converge in Tunisia, over 10,000 from over 40 countries will participate across all four host nations. In Tunisia alone, NATO allies such as France, Italy, and Spain will combine forces with the U.S. and Tunisia during AL25. Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, and Senegal will also participate, highlighting the shared regional security objectives of African nations.
“The foundational partnership and exceptional bilateral cooperation between the United States and Tunisia are what make engagements like AL25 possible,” said Col. Jörn Pung, Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia.
“One of only four U.S. major non-NATO allies in Africa, Tunisia makes outstanding contributions to a range of efforts, from regional exercises and training to humanitarian efforts, often made possible through our security relationship and Tunisia’s procurement of U.S. defense articles from UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, to C-130 transport aircraft, to Island-Class patrol boats.”
The exercise features a series of rigorous academic sessions, combined arms exercises, and command post simulations designed to test and refine participants’ planning and execution capabilities. Instructors facilitate regional cooperation, which increases interoperability and multinational response to emerging crises.
The Wyoming National Guard’s 84th Civil Support Team will also showcase its State Partnership Program (SPP) with Tunisia, practicing their ability to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
The Wyoming National Guard’s 21 years of partnership with Tunisia will be on full display in this exercise. Along with CBRN response, activities include air-to-ground integration, counter improvised explosive device training, and the deployment of advanced systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Airborne operations will also be a key component of the exercise, highlighting the rapid deployment capabilities of the 173rd Airborne Brigade with partner forces.
Exercise AL25 in Tunisia will involve a diverse range of U.S. military personnel. Alongside active-duty Soldiers, the training will include representatives from the National Guard, Army Reserve, U.S. Air Force, Marines, and Navy, all working together to enhance their joint capabilities.
Additionally, the exercise sharpens U.S. readiness alongside Tunisian, as well as European and other African counterparts, demonstrating a collective commitment to peace through strength. As the exercise host, Tunisia showcases its position as a regional leader in exporting stability and addressing shared security concerns.
African Lion 25 will take place across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal. Participating nations include:
- In Morocco: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Djibouti, France, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, United Kingdom, and the United States.
- In Tunisia: Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Spain, Tunisia, and the United States.
- In Ghana: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Togo, and the United States.
- In Senegal: Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Netherlands, Senegal, and the United States.
Observer nations include Belgium, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, India, Qatar, and Republic of Congo—reflecting broad interest in regional cooperation and collective security.
African Lion began in 2004 and has evolved into the U.S. military’s most significant exercise on the continent. This year’s events reinforce the U.S. commitment to enduring partnerships and demonstrate our ability to respond to crises and deter threats by promoting peace through strength.
