17 African nations participate in France-led multinational maritime exercise Grand African NEMO 2022

Africa, Europe, News October 14, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Around 17 African countries and 8 partner nations are taking part in the France-led multinational maritime exercise Grand African Navy Exercise for Maritime Operations (NEMO) 2022 from October 11 to 16, 2022, in the Gulf of Guinea.

The large-scale exercise is being conducted in a wide area stretching from Senegal to Angola and brings together several units and operational centers at the Gulf of Guinea — a key maritime region that covers 5,707 kilometers of the West African coastline and is located at the crossroads of major shipping routes.

Grand African NEMO 2022 participants include Angola, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Italy, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Sao-Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Spain, Togo, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Around 40 units at sea and five aircraft have been mobilized to take part in the various exercises designed to tackle the regional security challenges faced by the participating countries. With this ambitious exercise, “France and its African partners are making a decisive contribution to improving maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”

Four French units participating in this large-scale exercise include the French ship Germinal and the French Landing Helicopter Dock Tonnerre deployed in the area as part of operation Corymbe, a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2, and maritime surveillance aircraft Falcon 50.

^{The expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) sails in the Gulf of Aden, on July 26, 2022. Lewis B. Puller met up with the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), which is rotationally deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations, employed by the U.S. Sixth Fleet, to defend interests of the United States and its allies and partners. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Dylan Murakami)}

U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) sailors also joining allies and partners for the French-led exercise to enhance maneuverability capabilities and interoperability and jointly strengthen regional maritime security. USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) and one P-8A assigned to commander, Task Force (CTF) 67 are participating in the week-long exercise.

“We look forward to another opportunity to train and operate with our partners and allies as we work through challenging scenarios that will improve how we operate and communicate together,” said Captain Michael Concannon, commanding officer of Hershel “Woody” Williams. “This Gulf of Guinea training opportunity further emphasizes our resolve, and the commitment and resolve of our partners and allies, to work together to improve the stability and security of coastal Africa.”

The French Navy conducts three to four regional naval exercises annually as part of the African NEMO exercise series, which culminates in the major annual exercise Grand African NEMO and brings together a larger number of units and operational centers.

Since 2018, Grand African NEMO has become the most significant annual maritime security event in the Gulf of Guinea, which is home to important natural resources, including oil, fish, and minerals. The Gulf of Guinea was once known as the world’s biggest piracy hotspot but incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery are declining in the region. The region recorded 13 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the first nine months of 2022, compared to 27 in 2021, according to International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

*^{Grand African NEMO is the most significant annual maritime security event in the Gulf of Guinea. (Image Credit: French Navy)}*

The fourth edition of the exercise “aims to share know-how and improve the operational level of participants in the fight against illegal fishing, piracy, maritime pollution illegal trafficking and rescue at sea” the French Navy said in its statement.

The statement added that the exercise benefits from the support of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission, the Fisheries Committee of The Center West, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and also European program Gulf of Guinea Inter-Regional Network (GoGIN), Improved regional fisheries governance in western Africa (PESCAO) and the European Union West and Central Africa Port Security (WeCAPS) project.