At H-Hour, a breaching force from the Tanzanian army bursts from the African undergrowth in the shadow of Mount Kenya.
The soldiers clear a path through barbed wire, while a unit from the US National Guard delivers rapid fire from the flank. Two Kenyan and Somalian assault platoons then clear the target as helicopters circle overhead, and two Kenyan F-5 fighter jets zoom past the tower.
This was the dramatic final day of Exercise Justified Accord, where troops displayed their newly honed skills to an audience of international military VIPs.
Justified Accord is the United States’ largest annual military exercise in East Africa. Hosted this year by Kenya, Tanzania, and Djibouti, the $4.5 million exercise involved 1,300 troops from 15 countries.
A key component of this year’s training was air-to-ground integration operations, where partner nations controlled Kenyan air assets, including F-5 fighter jets, Cessna 208 armed reconnaissance aircraft, and MD-530 helicopters.
Members of 3 Rifles took part in the exercise, sharing their expertise in urban operations with Kenyan, Somali, and Tanzanian forces. The troops spent six days alternating between drills and tactical scenarios.
“It’s been really rewarding,” said Serjeant Major Marty Galdes of B Company. “They’re a really friendly bunch. Down in the village where we all live, it’s a mixed bag of nations – all playing football, training, running, the Kenyans are much better than us at running right now!”
“It’s like 14 days of fun,” said 1st Lieutenant Hassan of the Danab Brigade in the Somali National Army. “The men are doing great, we are adapting to the cold! It’s 27 degrees in Kenya, and The Rifles are fighting sunburn!”
While 3 Rifles shared their soldiering drills, the partner nations brought invaluable real-world conflict experience.
“This exercise is really important,” said 1Lt Hassan. “We have international terrorists in our country. So if we share information, we stand together, Africa will be great, and the world will be great!”
The primary aim of training with African partners is to help African nations prevent terrorism at the source, before it spreads beyond borders and reaches the US, Europe, and the UK.
“We want to help Africans solve African problems – to try and reduce the conflict that impacts us down the line,” explained Brigadier Oli Bryant, the UK Defence Adviser in Kenya and head of British Defence Staff for East Africa.
While Kenya remains stable, the surrounding countries are marked by instability.
“If we look at business investment, it’s pretty much stopped in Ethiopia, there’s very little in Somalia, none in South Sudan, and Rwanda, Burundi, and the Eastern Congo are flaring up at the moment,” said Brigadier Bryant.
The Kenyan military is currently focused on counter-terrorism operations against Al Shabab in Somalia. Following the Justified Accord, their soldiers will head straight to the Somali border for deployment.
The message is clear, we cannot forget Africa.
“The expectation that the West needs to do everything for this region is wrong. The Kenyans, in particular, can solve their security problems themselves,” said Brigadier Bryant. “They want investment from the West, whether military or economic. There are lots of projects happening that support their desires, rather than the UK pushing our desires onto them.”
Brothers and Sisters in Arms
One such project is CITSO, the Counter Insurgency, Counter Terrorism, and Stabilisation Operations Training Centre. This multimillion-pound venture between Kenya, the US, and the UK has played a significant role in the training for Justified Accord.
The UK contributed an urban operations facility and will soon begin construction on a headquarters and medical centre. The Kenyan build is nearly complete, consisting of accommodation and dining facilities, and the US has created an auditorium and training wing.
As with all exercises, it’s not just about sharing skills, but also building lasting relationships.
“It’s just fantastic teamwork. Military relationships are critical going forward, and what you see here is three weeks of shared hardship and relationships that will endure for quite some time,” said Colonel Drew Conover, the director of Justified Accord 2025. “These partners are very capable, and they’re very impressive.”
“We call them shemeji,” said Lieutenant Mohammed Rashid of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force. “You know shemeji? It means brother or sister-in-law.”
