Freetown, Sierra Leone –
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has taken part in the United States’ Exercise Northern Strike, a large-scale multinational training program aimed at strengthening combat readiness and fostering international defense cooperation.
A senior RSLAF delegation, headed by Chief of Defence Staff, Major General S.D. Ngaujah, attended the exercise under the State Partnership Program (SPP) with the Michigan National Guard—a long-standing military cooperation platform between Sierra Leone and the United States.
The annual exercise, held in Michigan, brought together units from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and National Guard, alongside participants from more than ten partner nations, including the United Kingdom, Latvia, Taiwan, Bolivia, Albania, Bulgaria, and Sierra Leone.
Training scenarios spanned land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains, showcasing the growing importance of multi-domain operations in modern warfare.
Military observers say Sierra Leone’s participation signals its commitment to modernization and international defense collaboration. Additional RSLAF officers from the Navy and Legal Services will travel to Michigan on August 23 to engage in maritime security and legal training sessions—expanding Sierra Leone’s exposure to international defense practices.