The Danish engagement in Africa

The Danish Armed Forces have been engaged in Africa for several years. This engagement aligns with Denmark's desire to both promote Danish and European security and to build local and regional capacity. The defense of Denmark does not begin at its own borders, which is exemplified by the fight against maritime crime and international terrorism. Therefore, Denmark is engaged through three programs under the Peace and Stabilisation Fund in East Africa, West Africa, and the Gulf of Guinea and also contributes to the engagement of international organizations on the African continent, including the UN and the EU.

Denmark's efforts under the Peace and Stabilisation Fund in Africa aim, among other things, to support countries in becoming better equipped to handle their own security challenges by building their capacities in defense and security.
 

The focus of Denmark’s defense efforts is primarily to assist the countries in building the necessary capacities to contribute to maintaining regional stability.
 

The Danish Armed Forces are engaged to:

• Strengthen Europe and Denmark's security and safeguard Danish interests.
• Contribute to regional and continental stability in Africa.
• Support the development of African defense capacities.
   

Initiatives in East Africa

The Peace and Stabilisation Program for the Horn of Africa is in its fourth phase and has a regional focus on violent extremism, cross-border organized crime both on land and at sea, as well as the development of national and regional conflict management capacities and competencies. Initiatives in East Africa include support to the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), including the deployment of a civilian adviser and a police adviser, support to the Kenyan Navy to strengthen the fleet's ability to execute maritime law enforcement, as well as combating piracy and other maritime crimes, and support through the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) – to train African soldiers, police officers, and civilian experts to participate in peace-support missions.
 
The Danish Armed Forces also contribute advisers under the Peace and Stabilisation Program for the Horn of Africa. One adviser is stationed at the Danish Embassy in Nairobi to manage the coordination of defense-related projects under the program, while another adviser is stationed at the Kenyan Navy's headquarters in Mombasa.

Initiatives in West Africa

In West Africa, Denmark is engaged through two peace and stabilisation programs. The program in the Gulf of Guinea focuses on strengthening maritime security in the region, while the West Africa Program focuses on strengthening the coastal countries to address the threats from the Sahel region.
 

Gulf of Guinea
Since 2015, Denmark has contributed to strengthening the maritime security situation in the Gulf of Guinea. Free and safe navigation is of great importance for the development of the region as well as Danish shipping and businesses. In 2022, a five-year peace and stabilisation program focusing on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea was launched, running through to 2026. Denmark has advisers in Accra, Ghana, and Abuja, Nigeria, who work to strengthen the maritime capacities in the region.
The Danish Armed Forces are specifically involved in building the capacity of the Ghanaian Navy. This includes providing tactical training for Ghanaian forces to respond to piracy incidents. Denmark has a particularly close and successful cooperation with the Ghana Navy Special Boat Squadron (SBS), which is Ghana's maritime special operations unit. There is also close cooperation with US African Command (US AFRICOM) to support Ghana SBS with relevant equipment.
 

West Africa
In addition, Denmark launched a peace and stabilisation program for West Africa in January 2025. The program focuses on combating violent extremism in the coastal countries by strengthening the regional capacity in defense and security structures and building resilience in the northern coastal countries to prevent the spread of instability from the Sahel.
Activities include training Ghana's Special Operations Brigade in cooperation with the Danish Special Operations Forces, as well as supporting regional capacity-building schools. Denmark supports two such schools: the Counter-Terrorism Academy (AILCT) in Ivory Coast and the Humanitarian Mine Action Centre (CPADD) in Benin.