Faces of AFRICOM | U.S. Coast Guard

The "Faces of AFRICOM" project is a recurring series that aims to provide greater insight to different positions across U.S. Africa Command and how those roles support U.S. and African partner shared goals. This edition sheds light on the role of the U.S. Coast Guard from the perspective of U.S. Coast Guard Codr. Danielle Shupe. The eight U.S. Coast Guard members stationed at U.S. Africa Command provide expertise including protecting living marine resources, environmental protection, law enforcement, drug interdiction, search and rescue, and defense operations. "African partners often tell us that the U.S. Coast Guard is their partner of choice when it comes to maritime training and development," Shupe said. U.S. Coast Guard objectives in Africa include exercising maritime security agreements, enhancing partner nation capacities and promoting the US partnership. This is achieved through joint maritime exercises, engagements, and real-world operations conducted with African partners. "In reality, most African navies are more similar to the Coast Guard than the Navy as they work to enforce national sovereignty in their territorial seas and exclusive economic zones," said Shupe. A stable and sustainable Africa reduces illicit maritime activity and prevents the spread of Violent Extremist Organizations. The U.S. Coast Guard with U.S. Africa Command is helping partner nations develop robust networks to stop illicit activities - such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, illegal trafficking, and piracy - at the strategic and operational levels. U.S. Africa Command is one of seven U.S. Department of Defense geographic combatant commands. The command is responsible for all U.S. military operations, exercises, security cooperation, and conducts crisis response on the African continent in order to advance U.S. interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.