Military cooperation between the United States and Sierra Leone took another step forward as the Michigan National Guard and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces carried out a week-long series of joint activities from April 11 to 18 in Freetown. The engagements highlight the growing strength of the bilateral defense partnership, which was formally established under the State Partnership Program in 2024.
The week-long visit included three key events at various RSLAF installations in the capital region, focusing on professional military education, vehicle operations and fleet management, disaster response planning and strengthening interagency cooperation. These areas reflect the priorities identified by Sierra Leone’s senior military leadership during the inception of the SPP partnership.
“This is about building a strong foundation and deepening mutual understanding,” said U.S. Army Brigadier General Scott House of the Michigan National Guard. “In less than a year, we’ve conducted six engagements in Sierra Leone progress that speaks to the strength of this partnership and our shared goals.”
The April activities build upon initial work that began after a formal partnership signing in September 2024. A Michigan delegation first visited Sierra Leone in November to help launch professional military education and vehicle operations initiatives, alongside programs promoting military justice and the rule of law.
Looking ahead, Sierra Leonean military officers are expected to participate as observers in the upcoming Exercise Northern Strike in Michigan this August. The exercise, hosted annually at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Northern Michigan, is one of the largest U.S. Department of Defense reserve component exercises. It is projected to attract around 7,000 personnel from across various U.S. military branches.
“We appreciate this partnership with the Michigan National Guard and look forward to developing the full benefit of our cooperation,” said RSLAF Chief of General Staff, Brigadier General Sahr David Ngaujah. “There are more good things to come as our relationship grows.”
The U.S. National Guard’s State Partnership Program, established in 1993, connects U.S. state National Guards with foreign military forces for mutually beneficial training and cooperation. From just 13 original partnerships, the SPP has expanded to 105 partnerships involving 115 nations across the globe.
With momentum growing and shared objectives at the forefront, the U.S.-Sierra Leone partnership is poised to enhance regional stability, professional development and military readiness for both nations.
