BOTSWANA — Exercise Southern Accord 2026 concluded with North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defence Force leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening military partnerships and regional cooperation during a closing ceremony Aug. 15 at Gaborone Technical College in Botswana.
The ceremony marked the culmination of the exercise, which brought U.S. and Botswana personnel together for training focused on interoperability, planning and shared security challenges.
The North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defence Force have been partners through the State Partnership Program since 2008. The partnership provides a foundation for military exchanges, joint training and professional development, while Southern Accord allows the NCNG and BDF to share knowledge through realistic training.
“The rigor of this exercise challenged participants to learn new concepts in cyber defense and space operations,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Anthony Sullins, deputy exercise director. “Their ability to work as a team to plan a complex, multi-domain operation like the one you saw demonstrated here today. We integrated plans for the media, Botswana government ministries, Botswana civil agencies and departments, United States Africa Command, United States Space Force and the North Carolina National Guard into one joint task force staff.”
The State Partnership Program extends beyond military activities, encouraging military and civilian leaders to engage in education, science and technology, agriculture and other areas.
“Today marks the successful completion of an exercise that has demonstrated our collective commitment to national security, military professionalism, cooperation and partnership,” said Botswana Defence Force Maj. Gen. Simon Motswana Barwabatsile. “Over the past days, we have witnessed not only the strengthening of operational capabilities, but also the upbuilding of trusting relationships founded on trust and shared purpose.”
Southern Accord 2024 focused on capabilities relevant to real-world contingencies, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation. In 2025, Botswana participated with the NCNG and other State Partnership Program nations in a hurricane-response symposium examining lessons learned from Hurricane Helene.
This year, Southern Accord 2026 featured a joint, multidomain planning exercise involving the Botswana Defence Force, the North Carolina National Guard and, for the first time, the U.S. Space Force, with support from U.S. Africa Command. The exercise included several functional areas, including cells focused on cyber, intelligence and space operations, as well as the main staff exercise.
“The shared work by Botswana and Americans we saw today is living proof of our enduring partnership. You can see decades of cooperation that benefit both countries. You can see two capable militaries working side by side to make Africa better,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana Howard A. Van Vranken. “Southern Accord 2024 strengthened how we train together. Southern Accord 2026 strengthened how we plan together. As we look toward Southern Accord 2028, we should build upon the lessons, relationships, and capabilities developed during both exercises.”