A Ghanaian Sailor assumes a watch position at the Ghana, Eastern Naval Command, during Exercise Obangame Express, March 21, 2021. Obangame Express, conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, is an at-sea maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa coastal regions.
Ghanaian Sailors stand watch at the Ghana, Eastern Naval Command during Exercise Obangame Express, March 21, 2021. Obangame Express, conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, is an at-sea maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa coastal regions.
The women serving within the participating nations in Exercise Obangame Express 2021 represent only a small number in a growing community of women in the armed forces.
Medical experts conduct virtual pandemic preparation, response event during Obangame Express
9:25 AM3/22/2021
Cmdr. Helen Cann, senior medical officer, participates in a pandemic preparation and response virtual engagement in support of Exercise Obangame Express 2021 on March 16, 2021. Obangame Express, conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, is an at-sea maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea and West African coastal regions.
Service members from the Ghanaian special forces provide cover while approaching a vessel during a boarding exercise as part of Obangame Express 2021, March 17, 2021. Obangame Express, conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, is an at-sea maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa coastal regions.
International Exercise Obangame Express set to begin
12:00 AM3/12/2021
OE21 is part of a comprehensive strategy by U.S. Naval Forces Africa and U.S. Africa Command to provide collaborative opportunities for African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns.
U.S. Africa Command cancels exercise Obangame Express
12:00 AM3/14/2020
The decision not to proceed with the exercise comes in response to the global effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), while minimizing exposure of U.S. and partner nation service members to this virus.
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Military members from the Cameroonian Armed Forces participate in a visit, board, search and seizure drill aboard a Nigerian training vessel during exercise Obangame Express 2019 in Lagos, Nigeria, March 18, 2019. Obangame Express, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command, is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity.
Gambia trains on maritime clearing techniques as part of Obangame Express 2019
12:00 AM3/18/2019
Members of the Gambian navy conduct clearing techniques during a simulated drug smuggling and human trafficking scenario aboard the Gambia Navy’s patrol vessel, GNS Kunti Kinte during Exercise Obangame Express 2019 in Banjul, Gambia, March 18. Exercise Obangame Express, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command, is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity.
Specific skill sets exercised for OE19 include boarding techniques, search and rescue operations, medical casualty response, radio communication, and information management techniques.
160315-N-ZE250-049 DAKAR, Senegal (March 15, 2016) U.S. Navy and Senegalese navy sailors conduct visit, board, search and seizure training aboard the Senegalese naval vessel PHM Njambuur during Obangame/Saharan Express 2016 (OESE16) in Dakar, Senegal, March 15, 2016. OESE16, one of three African regional express series exercises facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, seeks to increase regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing practices and improve interoperability among participating forces in order to enhance maritime security and regional economic stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Weston Jones/Released)
180329-N-QR145-260 LIBREVILLE, Gabon (March 29, 2018) Adm. James G Foggo III, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, gets piped aboard during the exercise Obangame Express 2018 closing ceremonies in Libreville, Gabon, March 29. Exercise Obangame Express 2018, which is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Krystina Coffey/Released)
180329-N-QR145-260 LIBREVILLE, Gabon (March 29, 2018) Adm. James G Foggo III, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, gets piped aboard during the exercise Obangame Express 2018 closing ceremonies in Libreville, Gabon, March 29. Exercise Obangame Express 2018, which is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Krystina Coffey/Released)
180329-N-XT273-084 LIBREVILLE, Gabon (March 29, 2018) Adm. James G Foggo III, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, delivers remarks during the exercise Obangame Express 2018 closing ceremonies in Libreville, Gabon, March 29. Exercise Obangame Express 2018, which is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
180329-N-QR145-271 LIBREVILLE, Gabon (March 29, 2018) Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney's (LCC 20) color guard team presents the colors during the exercise Obangame Express 2018 closing ceremonies in Libreville, Gabon, March 29. Exercise Obangame Express 2018, which is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Krystina Coffey/Released)
More than 36 organizations participated this year, among them 19 African nations and 15 European, Atlantic, and international organizations under the umbrella of maritime safety, security and cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea
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TEMA, Ghana (March 24, 2018) Cmdr. Mike Krul from Detroit, right, works with Ghanaian Able Seaman 1st Class Emmanuel Owusu, left, during exercise Obangame Express 2018, March 24. Exercise Obangame Express, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Theron J. Godbold)
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TEMA, Ghana (March 24, 2018) Cmdr. Mike Krul from Detroit, right, works with Ghanaian Sailors during exercise Obangame Express 2018, March 24. Exercise Obangame Express, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Theron J. Godbold/Released)
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TEMA, Ghana (March 23, 2018) A visit board search and seizure team from the Ghanaian special boat service attends training on boarding tactics during exercise Obangame Express 2018, March 23, 2018. Exercise Obangame Express 2018, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Theron J. Godbold/Released)