The Danish engagement in Africa

The aim of the Danish Armed Forces’ engagement in Africa is to help reduce the risk of conflicts in Africa by contributing to the stabilisation of fragile states. The Danish Armed Forces are engaged in Africa to:

• Strengthen Europe's and Denmark’s security. The effort to maintain peace and stability does not only begin at the Danish border.
• Contribute to regional and continental stability in Africa.
• Help develop African defence capabilities in order to increase the ability of the African countries to handle conflicts on the continent on their own.

The role of the Danish Armed Forces

The engagement of the Danish Armed Forces in Africa is based on the African states’ own wish for assistance in order to increase their capacity to handle conflicts and ensure stability. For this reason, the Danish Armed Forces have engaged in military cooperation and operations in Africa for a number of years. Currently, Danish defence stabilisation efforts are focusing on Eastern Africa and initiatives include support to the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and regional peace support training centers. Denmark also supports Kenya in the effort to increase the capacity of its fleet to maintain control over the country’s territorial waters.

In West Africa, Denmark supports the development of the regional G5 Sahel force. Denmark is also active in the fight against maritime crime, including piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. This includes the deployment of a maritime advisor to the Danish Embassy in Nigeria. Furthermore, Danish Special Operation Forces participate in the capacity building exercises including exercises FLINTLOCK and OBANGAME EXPRESS, which both take place in West Africa.

Denmark also contributes with military personnel to the UN’s peacekeeping operations in Mali, MINUSMA, and the French led Operation Barkhane in the Sahel region.

The Peace- and Stabilisation Fund

The funding for Danish stabilisation activities comes from the Peace and Stabilisation Fund. In 2020, the fund holds more than 500 million Danish Kroner annually with a combination of development and non-developments funds. Typically, engagements under the Fund is implemented through multi-year regional programmes combining activities around a common objective. In the framework of the Peace and Stabilisation Fund regional programmes are being implemented in Syria-Iraq, Ukraine, Sahel, Afghanistan, the Gulf og Guinea and The Horn of Africa. In addition, a number of smaller efforts are also being implemented.