By Walter Wilson Nana
The Department of Defense, USA and partner countries in Africa have shared new ideas on how to pursue relief operations, foster security and counter piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. These, were amongst some of the issues discussed at the multinational naval exercise dubbed Obangame Express 2013.
From February 19 to 28 2013, naval officers from the US, nine African countries, four European countries and one from Latin America learnt new methods on maritime security, fight against maritime piracy, illegal fishing, how to fight against pollution, drug trafficking and illegal marketing in the Gulf of Guinea as well as reinforcing the security of the countries in that region.
A Cameroonian Colonel (L) and Gen. Carter Ham (R) answer questions from the Cameroonian and international press on the Obangame Express 2013
Colonel Lawrence Rollo, Exercise Director for the US Navy said naval professionals in the sixteen countries involved have embarked on a mission to check illegal activities in the sea, especially in the Gulf of Guinea. “We’ve to collaborate and work in the sea. That has to be done with huge preparations in the background,” he said.
Rollo said maritime insecurity is a global problem, “So, we’re working together to fight illicit activities,” he added.
His Cameroonian counterpart, Captain Sylvestre Fonkoua Mbah, Director of the Multinational Centre for Coordination in Douala indicated that insecurity in the sea is a worry for Cameroon, the US and the other countries that were invited for the training. “We’re all looking out for strategies to fight insecurity in our maritime space,” he mentioned.
Captain Sylvestre Fonkoua Mbah (L) and Col. Lawrence Rollo of the US Navy (R) at a press briefing during the Obangame Express 2013
Mbah said Cameroon has the resources to fight piracy, but will quickly add that it is never enough. “We’ve to collaborate with other countries to learn new ways of doing things,” he noted.
At the closing ceremony, US Ambassador to Cameroon, Robert P. Jackson lauded the efforts of the sixteen participating countries from four continents. “Your initiative will improve cooperation amongst our countries so that we can increase counter-piracy capabilities in the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.
General Carter Ham, Commander of the United States’ Africa Command, USAFRICOM said Cameroon, the USA and the other partner countries have a duty to fight illicit activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
A Cameroonian soldier explains to the press what their training at Obangame Express 2013 is all about
Ham said the Defense Departments of Cameroon and the US have shown a great sense of hard work to safe their territorial waters and foster military cooperation.
The Secretary of State, in the Ministry of Defense in charge of War Veterans, Koumpa Issa shared the same view. “Illicit activities in the Gulf of Guinea must be fought with all the energy thanks to concerted efforts from Cameroon and her cooperation partners in the military sector.”
He found in the Obangame Express Exercise 2013 an opportunity for capacity and inter-operational building for the military of the countries involved.
Koumpa Issa expressed gratitude to General Carter Ham for coming to support the Obangame Exercises 2013 and the Cameroon Naval Force for making the training sessions successful.
Gen Ham of USAFRICOM express joy after taking part in Obangame Express 2013
Obangame in the beti or fang dialects in Cameroon and some countries in the Central African region means solidarity or working in synergy. The just ended exercise is the third of the Obangame Express. This is the second time in Douala, Cameroon after 2011. It moved to Nigeria in 2012. The countries that took part include; Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Congo-Brazzaville, Sao Tome & Principe, Spain, Togo and the US.
He said regular training is what makes the force of an army and not the number of years they have existed, saying the Obangame Exercises are welcomed. “After a second attempt, it is helping Cameroon in various ways, especially in the army. Obangame is opening up Cameroon to other military advantages, study opportunities to partner countries and the promotion of regional integration.”
Secretary of State in charge of War Veterans, Koumpa Issa addresses delegates at the closing ceremony of Obangame Express 2013 in Douala
In the sidelines of the Obangame Express 2013 was another US Department of Defense-sponsored joint-aerial-delivery military exercise from February 18 to March 1 2013. The exercise is expected to enhance the Ministry of Defense Forces’ capability to resupply forces in remote areas and increase their interoperability with the US.
Some 745 participants came from Cameroon, US, Congo-Kinshasa, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Sao Tome & Principe, Burundi, Uganda, the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS and the USA.
