The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Angolan Armed Forces have opened the 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference in Luanda, Angola, focusing on security cooperation and emerging regional defence challenges.

The three-day African Chiefs of Defence Conference (ACHOD) began on June 30 and will end on July 2. 

The conference focuses on emerging defence challenges, communication operations, and innovation to promote stability and development in the region.

Angola’s Minister of State and Head of the Military Affairs Cabinet for the Office of the President of Angola, Gen. João Ernesto dos Santos (retd), said the country is proud to co-host the conference, describing the event as a crucial partnership to strengthen security.

“History has taught us that peace is not a permanent privilege, but one that requires sacrifice, commitment, and cooperation. Regional and international partnerships are indispensable to building capacity to ensure our respective territorial integrity, security, and stability,” Mr dos Santos said. 

During the conference, military leaders and stakeholders will hold panel discussions with defence experts and officials, with the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, and Dr Carlos Da Silva Feijo, former minister of state for Angola, in attendance.

Panel discussions will address challenges in defence operations and the adoption of innovative technologies, such as drones, to combat threats, enable investment opportunities, and facilitate economic growth across the continent.

The U.S. Air Force AFRICOM commander, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, said that these threats “don’t respect borders,” with increasing violence from violent extremists and drug cartels as a result of trafficking, urging for cooperation as the groups work across international organisations, creating international networks.

Mr Anderson said, “We have to work together in order to address these threats, and that’s why it’s so important to have conferences like this, conferences where we can come together to discuss these issues, to discuss the opportunities, to make connections, so we can move forward together.”