Exercise Obangame Express (OE) is one of three African regional “Express” series exercises sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet (NAVEUR-NAVAF-SIXTHFLT). The exercise is designed to train NAVAF/SIXTHFLT forces while advancing AFRICOM Campaign Plan Lines of Effort.
The exercise will improve regional cooperation in support of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), information sharing between... read more
Exercise Obangame Express (OE) is one of three African regional “Express” series exercises sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet (NAVEUR-NAVAF-SIXTHFLT). The exercise is designed to train NAVAF/SIXTHFLT forces while advancing AFRICOM Campaign Plan Lines of Effort.
The exercise will improve regional cooperation in support of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), information sharing between Maritime Operation Centers (MOCs), maritime interdiction, adherence to the rule of law, and counter-proliferation interdiction capabilities in order to disrupt illicit maritime activity and strengthen safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. The exercise begins with an in-port training period followed by at-sea scenarios. The underway portion of the exercise tests participating MOCs’ and ships’ abilities to coordinate and conduct maritime interdiction operations (MIO) by boarding teams against simulated suspect vessels, detecting illicit activity, and follow-on evidence collection procedures.
The exercise will take place across five exercise zones in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Guinea that stretch from Cabo Verde to Angola, and across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) nations. show less
One of the key drivers of the development and implementation of unique scenario events in the ongoing Obangame Express exercise in West and Central Africa is the exercise’s role in bolstering awareness of, and adherence to, the Yaoundé Code of Conduct.
Information and intelligence sharing throughout the five zones of the Yaoundé Code is crucial to the Code’s success in ensuring regional maritime security and stability. Through...
