Accra, Ghana – The 13th African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) commenced in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, April 7, 2025, heralding a pivotal gathering of military leaders and experts focused on bolstering collaborative efforts to address escalating security challenges across the African continent. Scheduled to run until Thursday, April 9, the summit has drawn participation from forty African nations, alongside eleven additional countries from around the globe, all converging to foster dialogue, forge partnerships, and devise sustainable strategies to combat persistent insecurities.

The African Land Forces Summit stands as an annual cornerstone event, uniting land force commanders from across Africa, international partner nations, academics, and governmental figures. This year's summit is co-hosted by the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). Previous iterations of the summit have been held in the United States (2010 & 2022), Uganda (2012), Senegal (2015), Tanzania (2016), Malawi (2017), Nigeria (2018), Botswana (2019), Ethiopia (2020), Cote d’Ivoire (2023), and Zambia (2024), underscoring its consistent importance as a platform for multinational cooperation.

Under the theme of "Optimising Land Forces for The Emerging Security Environment," the summit aims to facilitate the development and strengthening of relationships among senior land force leaders from African nations. Participants will engage in the exchange of information on pressing issues of mutual concern and promote collaborative approaches to overcoming shared challenges.

Major-General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, Chief of the Army Staff, emphasized the timeliness of the summit, particularly in light of ongoing terrorist attacks and security threats faced by African countries. He expressed confidence that the summit would provide a crucial platform for neighboring countries to convene, deliberate on rising terrorism, and address other pertinent threats to regional security. “Let us engage in matters of mutual benefits to help fight terrorism collectively to safeguard national and regional securities,” he urged, highlighting the importance of unified action.

COAS Gbetanu further noted the unique opportunity the summit presents for military commanders to engage in discussions on defense and security matters, ensuring strategic deliberations, networking, and collaborative problem-solving. He called upon the assembled leaders to remain steadfast in their commitment to collaboration with African partners and allies to effectively address emerging security environments.

The summit is expected to yield significant advancements in regional security cooperation, fostering stronger relationships and more effective strategies to combat terrorism and other threats across the African continent.