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Training program with Defense Threat Reduction Agency readies Senegal for regional emergency response role

Senegal Military members treat a simulated casualty from a chemical attack during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense demonstration hosted by the Moroccan and Senegalese militaries in Agadir, Morocco, during African Lion 2021, June 15, 2021.The training event marked a culmination of a six-year program with the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency to enhance the Senegalese National Fire Brigade as a trained and ready Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear response organization.

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Photo by: Sgt. Casey Dinnison 

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Training program with Defense Threat Reduction Agency readies Senegal for regional emergency response role

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency concludes a six-year cooperative Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear preparedness and response training program with the Senegalese National Fire Brigade’s, Sapeur Pompiers CBRN unit in September 2021. DTRA has worked closely with Senegal to enable an active CBRN response plan to mitigate hazardous threats within Senegal’s borders.

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Photo by: Darnell Gardner 

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Security Cooperation Engagement Program concluded a 6-year cooperative Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Preparedness and Response training program with the Senegalese National Fire Brigade’s, Sapeur Pompiers CBRN Unit in September 2021.

Building on the Pompiers’ successes during Senegal’s participation in June’s African Lion 21 exercise, the program's end marks the unit’s transition from a building phase to its sustainment as a trained and ready CBRN response organization. This effort was celebrated during a ceremony at the Senegalese National Fire Brigade’s headquarters in Dakar, Senegal, on Sept. 10, 2021.

Going forward the Sapeur Pompiers CBRN unit will continue to partner with additional U.S. organizations, including the Vermont National Guard via the State Partnership Program. Through these linkages, the unit can ensure this critical CBRN response capability stays ahead of emerging threats.

DTRA has worked closely with Senegal to enable an active CBRN Response Framework, National Response Plan, and Command and Control system that are capable of an effective CBRN response and of mitigating hazardous threats within Senegal’s borders. The team capitalized on this final engagement to validate the Brigade’s standard operating procedures and confirm operational status of all equipment. The Fire Brigade is now capable of fully assessing hazardous sites, conducting dismounted reconnaissance, initiating sampling of known and unknown CBRN materials, and conducting mass casualty decontamination. These skills will better enhance Senegal’s national-level Emergency Operations Center response capacity.

The program highlights the U.S. and Senegalese partnership aimed at regional and international security, and a combined effort to halt the proliferation of WMD and the illicit transfer of related materials.

DTRA has supported U.S. Africa Command’s Security Cooperation efforts since 2015 to include related efforts in Morocco and Kenya, with all efforts concluding by the end of 2021. At that time, all three nations will serve as regional leaders in Africa for responding to CBRN incidents and supporting the overall CWMD mission.