US, Tanzania hunt for cyber threats during JA26 cyber defense training

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - Soldiers assigned to the 200th Cyber Protection Team, U.S. Army Cyber Protection Brigade partnered with cyber operations experts of the Tanzanian People's Defence Force at the Tanzania Peacekeeping Training Centre in Dar es Salaam, March 1-11, during Justified Accord 2026.

This subject matter expert exchange centered on honing defensive cyber operations expertise and strengthening regional cybersecurity capabilities.

Kenneth R. Gallifent, deputy team lead for the 200th CPT, said these collaborations help both forces improve their abilities to defend critical networks.

The engagement continued a growing series of cyber defense exchanges between the two nations, aimed at staying ahead of rapidly advancing technologies and maintaining readiness against ever-evolving cyber threats.

"We covered tools used in cyber operations to detect malicious cyber activity, with the intent of helping partners strengthen their capability to identify and address threats," Gallifent said.

Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 brought together military and civilian experts in Tanzania to increase technological interoperability and build partner capacity across multiple operational domains, including cyber.

Members of the 200th CPT shared tools and tradecraft used to identify malicious activity and strengthen network defense.

The exchange focused on sharing current cyber technologies and operational practices. Participants also tested cyber systems during the event and emphasized the importance of adapting to a rapidly evolving cyber environment while maintaining readiness with emerging technologies.

The 200th CPT primarily concentrates on defensive missions such as hunting adversaries in networks, supporting system hardening and clearing malicious cyber activity.

However, during JA26 the emphasis shifted toward cooperation, training and exchanging ideas with international partners. Gallifent highlighted SETAF-AF's role in enabling this partnership and demonstrating the value of multinational cyber collaboration during the exercise.

Justified Accord highlights the value of working with partners and sharing technologies. These interactions are essential for building and strengthening multinational readiness to combat shared security issues.

"Cybersecurity is about protecting more than computers," said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin Brown, a cyber operations technician assigned to the 200th CPT. "It's about defending people, economies and national security."

Brown emphasized that cyber operations are growing, as cyber is formally recognized one of the core warfighting domains along with land, air, sea and space, requiring continuous training and coordination between partners and allies.

Exercises like Justified Accord help participating nations rehearse cyber defense techniques, standardize processes and improve their collective abilities to respond to emerging threats. Defensive cyber operations subject matter experts have highlighted the growing importance of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in shaping the future cyber environment.

By sharing tools, knowledge and best practices, these interactions support the efforts of U.S. Africa Command and SETAF-AF to increase readiness, strengthen partnerships across the continent, and enable partner-led security through innovation in cyber defense.

About Justified Accord:

Justified Accord increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance and crisis response, prepares regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions, and builds readiness for the U.S. joint force. Led by SETAF-AF and hosted in Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania, Justified Accord is U.S. Africa Command's largest exercise in East Africa.

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

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