U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs
February 6, 2023

Partners, allies celebrate successful conclusion of exercise Obangame Express 2023

Partners and allies celebrated the conclusion of exercise Obangame Express 2023 (OE23), the largest multinational maritime exercise in Western and Central Africa, at a closing ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria, Feb. 3, 2023.

The ceremony, hosted in the Nigerian Navy’s Admiralty Conference Center in the Naval Dockyard, included remarks by U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Kirk Smith, deputy commander at U.S. Africa Command, and Nigerian Navy Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff.

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…Ashore, armed forces from the Benin, Nigeria, Togo, and the U.S., alongside international law enforcement agencies, conducted expertise exchanges on forensics collection, combat defensive tactics, first aid at the JMSTC. At the Lagos-area Maritime Operations Center, a multi-national team exchanged lessons….

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The participating nations during OE23 included Angola, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Togo, and the United States. Also participating will be the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).