An exercise of special operations forces, codenamed "Flintlock", organized annually in Africa, has created unique opportunities to develop capabilities of NATO allies, partner countries and African host countries. The demanding operational environment, high category of challenges that special operations forces must face in Africa, the ability to dispatch troops into areas of the exercise  all this creates opportunities for development and testing of the already existing capabilities, impossible to create anywhere else in the world. The author aims to show that, Africa is a specific challenge for special operations forces, requiring a separate process of preparation, planning and conducting of special operations.

Piotr Orłowski

KBN Analysis no. 9 (61) / 2020

12 May 2020

An exercise of special operations forces, codenamed "Flintlock", organized annually in Africa, has created unique opportunities to develop capabilities of NATO allies, partner countries and African host countries. The demanding operational environment, high category of challenges that special operations forces must face in Africa, the ability to dispatch troops into areas of the exercise - all this creates opportunities for development and testing of the already existing capabilities, impossible to create anywhere else in the world. The author aims to show that, Africa is a specific challenge for special operations forces, requiring a separate process of preparation, planning and conducting of special operations.

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