From November 4 to 12, 2024, the 7th edition of the major exercise Grand African NEMO 2024 (GANo 24) is taking place. Co-organized by the French Navy and the Yaoundé Architecture, this significant event brings together 18 coastal nations of the Gulf of Guinea and 10 allied nations, including France. This large-scale exercise will cover a vast maritime zone extending from Senegal to Angola.
The 8-day exercise seeks to strengthen cooperation among regional naval forces to counter the growing challenges of piracy and transnational maritime crimes. It includes participation from naval forces across multiple African countries alongside international partners, engaging in simulated scenarios focused on piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing.
The Nigerian Navy has deployed five warships, two helicopters, and two fast-attack boats to take part in a major multinational maritime exercise in the Gulf of Guinea.
A Comprehensive Exercise
Grand African NEMO 2024 will see the participation of 55 naval units, 12 aircraft, and numerous specialized maritime administrations and organizations ashore. Over the course of ten days, these participants will engage in various exercises designed to address the unique security challenges faced by the nations in the region. The exercises will focus on combating illegal fishing, piracy, maritime pollution, illegal trafficking, and conducting sea rescue operations.
An Established Tradition
Since its inception in 2018, Grand African NEMO has become the annual cornerstone event for maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. This 7th edition is notable for the significant number of military assets deployed at sea, on land, and in the air. The aim is to share expertise and improve the operational capabilities of each participating nation.
Collaboration and Support
Grand African NEMO 2024 is supported by many partners, including the European Union through programs such as GoGIN, EnMar, and SEACOP. Other notable partners include the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the Center for Documentation, Research, and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (CEDRE), the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (CSRP), the Fisheries Committee of the Center-West (FWCO/CPCO), and the Regional Fisheries Commission of the Gulf of Guinea (COREP).
France, the Architecture, and all their partners are playing a decisive role in enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, building on the partnership established by the Yaoundé Protocol of 2013.
The Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea, stretching over 5,707 kilometers of coastline from Senegal to Angola, is a crucial maritime region. It sits at the intersection of major maritime routes and is rich in natural resources, including petroleum, fisheries, and minerals. These resources attract various illegal activities, making the region’s security paramount.
The African NEMO Exercises
Since the Yaoundé Summit of 2013, the French Navy, in collaboration with the Yaoundé Architecture and its partners, has organized three to four maritime exercises per year under the African NEMO (Navy’s Exercise for Maritime Operations) framework. These culminate in the annual major exercise Grand African NEMO, which brings together numerous units and operational centers. These recurring exercises, conducted in different areas of the Gulf of Guinea, aim to strengthen the ability of coastal state navies to cooperate and effectively carry out state actions at sea.