U.S. partners with West African navies

Senegalese sailors receive hands-on training recently from Petty Officer 1st Class James Lamberson, center, while Lt. Cmdr. Fru Fon Clement, a Cameroon naval officer, right, translates. The U.S. Navy has sent the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry to the Gulf of Guinea as part of the Africa Partnership Station.


U.S. partners with West African navies
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, November 15, 2007


The sailors of the USS Fort McHenry are hosting luncheons and showing off the talents of the Navy’s 6th Fleet Band as they sail the Gulf of Guinea pushing the Navy’s newest approach to maritime security.

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The underlying mission of the Navy’s novel Africa Partnership Station is to teach West African navies to secure their own coastlines and waterways to counter drug smuggling and illegal human trafficking and to cut down on illegal fishing — a $1 billion industry in the region, said Navy Capt. John Newell, head of the mission.

“The hallmarks of APS are working with African partners, increasing capabilities and capacity for maritime safety and security, and building relations and partnerships,” Nowell said during a satellite-linked telephone interview as the ship sailed toward its next port in Ghana.

He downplayed fears that the recent creation of the U.S. Africa Command translates to the military’s intention to ratchet up military presence on the continent, a strategically important region that supplies about one-fifth of U.S. oil imports.

“They understand what we’re trying to do is build better coordination and help them in solving their own problems, and not increasing our footprint in Africa,” Nowell said of the sentiments voiced by African leaders with whom he met while the ship visited Dakar, Senegal, last week.

“It’s not about oil. People always want to bring that up,” Nowell said. “It’s something bigger and more important. ...We’re looking at countries with maritime problems, unlawful fishing, drug trafficking. It’s bad for them, it impacts stability. If we can help that, it increases stability in the region.”


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50281



uhc comment; Whew! I'm sure glad it's not about oil. :sarcasm: