The main closing ceremony for exercise Obangame Express 2017 was held March 31, 2017 at Camp Gallieni in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

Maritime forces throughout the Gulf of Guinea, Europe, North and South America, as well as other regional and international organizations came together to celebrate the 12-day exercise. Several other local ceremonies celebrating the exercise also took place through out the Gulf of Guinea.

QUOTES:
"The challenges of illicit trafficking, illegal fishing, and piracy are a continuing challenge to all of the West African nations, but through consistent training on command and control, international communications, and interoperability during this exercise they have become very proficient in maritime interdiction operations."
-Capt. Mike Coleman
Obangame Express zone D commander

"Obangame Express ended on a high note with the closing ceremonies today. The exercise was a resounding success and all participants walked away with valuable lessons learned to improve the exercise in the future. The professionalism and dedication exhibited by the Zone D countries of Cameroon, Gabon, So Tome, and Equatorial Guinea will further increase the safety and security for their countries and the entire Gulf of Guinea region."
-Cmdr. Tim Farward
Obangame Express zone D Executive Officer

"I think the significance of the expertise in Obangame was witnessed this year when the countries of Gabon and Cote d'Ivoire redirected ships' conducting training to real world events. In both cases the Sailors onboard captured the parent ship, evidence was gathered, and it was turned over to the authorities on shore."
-Vice Adm. Michael Franken
Deputy Commander for Military Operations U.S. Africa Command

"The importance of Maritime Domain Awareness and security cannot be more important for the blue economy in the Gulf of Guinea. Our collective challenge is to continue to work together as an international community and U.S. Africa Command looks forward to supporting that collaboration in the years to come."
-Vice Adm. Michael Franken
Deputy Commander for Military Operations U.S. Africa Command

"We know that the issues of maritime security involves a lot of people and a lot of issues across many agencies in each of our governments. So, there has to be cooperation within our governments was well as cooperation between our counties. Exercises like this are extremely important to make that possible."
-Andrew Haviland
Charge d' Affaires, U.S. Embassy Cote d'Ivoire

QUICK FACTS:
-Over thirty nations were scheduled to participate in this year's exercise including Angola, Benin, Belgium, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Togo, Turkey, United States, and the United Kingdom, as well as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

-Numerous partner nation maritime operations centers were utilized for the exercise.

-The concentration of U.S. forces operated in Douala, Cameroon; Accra, Ghana; Abijan, Cote d'Ivoire; and Contonou, Benin.

-The word "Obangame" comes from the Fang language of southern Cameroon and other parts of Central Africa that means "togetherness." This name was selected by African participants during a proof of concept for this exercise in 2010, to promote the importance of regional cooperation between all the Navies of the Gulf of Guinea.

-The exercise took place March 20-31, 2017 and included an in-port Command Post Exercise and an underway Field Training Exercise in the Gulf of Guinea.


-Obangame Express 2017 increases the collective ability of African, European, South American and U.S. maritime forces to improve interoperability, which increases regional maritime security.

-U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with joint, allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.


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For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.