POINTE AUX PIMENTS, Mauritius -- The 2025 African Maritime Forces Summit featured a strong presence from Kenya, underscoring its role as a leader in East African peacekeeping, regional security, and humanitarian response alongside U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa.
Kenya's long history of contributing to peace support operations and counterterrorism missions across the continent has made it a critical partner to the U.S. Marine Corps. AMFS 2025 highlighted combined exercises, regional coordination, and joint planning efforts aimed at enhancing operational readiness.
African Maritime Forces Summit
Photo by Sgt. Addysyn Tobar
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Michael S. Mattis, commander, Command Task Force 66, left, Kenya Navy Brig. Gen. John Sankale Kiswaa, deputy commander of the Kenya Navy, center, and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Robert B. Sofge Jr., commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, right, attend a bilateral engagement in Pointe aux Piments, Mauritius, June 26, 2025. African Maritime Forces Summit is a summit that seeks to bring together senior leaders from African maritime forces, naval infantries, and militaries, alongside international partners, to address critical maritime security challenges facing the African continent. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Addysyn Tobar)
“Kenya consistently leads from the front when it comes to peace and security in East Africa,” said Maj. Gen. Robert B. Sofge Jr., commander of MARFOREUR/AF. “Our work together has helped increase stability and improved lives across the region.”
MARFOREUR/AF and Kenyan Defense Forces have conducted a variety of engagements, including security force assistance missions, amphibious training, and civil-military coordination drills aimed at improving disaster response.
Leaders at the summit also explored new opportunities for joint logistics, tactical aviation support, and infrastructure interoperability. Kenya’s professionalism and host-nation support for regional missions, such as in Somalia and South Sudan, were widely recognized by summit attendees.
African Maritime Forces Summit
Photo by Sgt. Addysyn Tobar
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Robert B. Sofge Jr., commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, left, Kenya Navy Brig. Gen. John Sankale Kiswaa, deputy commander of the Kenya Navy, center, and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Michael S. Mattis, commander, Command Task Force 66, attend a bilateral engagement in Pointe aux Piments, Mauritius, June 26, 2025. The African Maritime Forces Summit is a summit that seeks to bring together senior leaders from African maritime forces, naval infantries, and militaries, alongside international partners, to address critical maritime security challenges facing the African continent. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Addysyn Tobar)
“Our continued collaboration with Kenya helps ensure we can respond rapidly to any contingency,” said Sofge. “This partnership is not just about training—it’s about building lasting security in a region that matters deeply to the world.”