Hungarian SOF troops on the African continent

Training activity in Somalia

After a six-year pause, Hungarian troops are serving again with the European Union Training Mission Somalia (EUTM-S), where they support the development of the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) through their professional expertise.

The Hungarian soldiers primarily contribute a Shooting Instructor Course and an Ammunition Depot Manager Course to the development of local capabilities. By launching and mentoring these two military training courses, they help the SNAF learn the independent and safe use of the shooting range and the ammunition depot constructed by the European Union.

The Hungarian team is closely cooperating with the international personnel of the mission, which includes Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Romanian, Moldovan, Finnish, Swedish and Serbian soldiers as well. The Hungarian contingent faces special challenges due to the task and the environment. Average daytime temperatures are usually 31-32 degrees Celsius in May, which drop only to 27-28 °C in the evening hours, while humidity often reaches 80 percent. Moreover, the security situation continues to be unstable in Somalia. During the time of the courses, the Italian military provides force protection for the Hungarian servicemembers.

Participation in Exercise Flintlock 25

In 2025, the engagement of the Hungarian Defence Forces is not confined to the EUTM-S in Somalia. The soldiers of the HDF Special Operations Command participated in the multinational Exercise Flintlock 25, organized by the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) in West Africa. The objectives of Exercise Flintlock 25 are to strengthen cooperation among countries of the region and NATO allies in counter-terrorism, develop the SOF capabilities of partner countries and promote regional stability.

This year, Exercise Flintlock 25 was hosted by Ivory Coast, where the Hungarian troops are responsible for the training of Chadian units. This activity is in harmony with the strategic partnership agreement signed between Hungary and Chad in September 2024. During the joint training, they develop tactical skills and practice maritime operations, battlefield drills as well as border-hunter operations.

Exercise Flintlock 25 offers them a unique opportunity to learn lessons on an international level, deepen multinational cooperation and develop their own procedures.

Participation in Exercise African Lion 2025

Organized by the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), Exercise African Lion 2025 was conducted in Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia. This is the largest-scale exercise of the United States in Africa, which involved some 10,000 troops from more than 20 countries, including several NATO member states who were carrying out joint training events and operational tasks.

The Hungarian SOF troops perform joint force tasks (on land, on water and in air) in the training areas of Agadir, Tifnit and Cap Draa. One of the highlighted elements of the Hungarian presence is providing instruction in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) for Ghanaian and Moroccan SOF operators. During the training, the emphasis is placed on the effective use of the training audience’s own equipment.

As part of African Lion 2025, day and night live fire exercises (LFX) were held, in which the Hungarian soldiers developed their marksmanship skills and shared tactical lessons learned with soldiers from Ghana, Morocco and Israel.

Furthermore, in cooperation with Israeli servicemembers, the Hungarian troops held hands-on training and demonstration in the tactics, techniques and procedures of subterranean warfare, where the participants had the opportunity to learn about the characteristics of subterranean military operations, among others the methods of tunnel inspection and security, the techniques of advancing in narrow, enclosed spaces as well as the procedures for explosives detection and blocking tunnels. The aim of the training is to increase the soldiers’ efficiency and survival skills during complex operations executed in subterranean battleground environments.

Expertise, cooperation, commitment

The Hungarian Defence Forces’ participation also signals that Hungary is committed to the goals of global security policy, and actively contributes to the international community’s efforts in Africa.

The African presence of Hungarian SOF troops well reflects the commitment and preparedness of the Hungarian Defence Forces on the international level. Performed at multiple operational sites, the tasks serve not only the deepening of allied relations, but also contribute to regional and global stability. These engagements strengthen Hungary’s place in the system of international security policy in the long term as well.