USS Robert G. Bradley to participate in Obangame Express exercise

UNITED STATES EMBASSY- Yaounde

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION

PRESS RELEASE

USS Robert G. Bradley to participate in Obangame Express exercise

Yaounde March 17, 2011

The USS Robert G. Bradley, a U.S. Navy frigate will be in Cameroonian waters for a multinational maritime military exercise that will be held off the coast of Cameroon March 21123. The USS Bradley sails with a crew of over 200 personnel and has its home part in Mayport, Florida. The ship will not be docking in Douala but will be visible from land off the coast of Limbe.

The USS Bradley will be in Cameroonian waters to participate in a multinational maritime military exercise called "Obangame Express" organized by United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and United States Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) in collaboration with Cameroon, members of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) and other international partners.

U.S. Ambassador Robert P Jackson stated: "The United States is committed to helping Cameroon and its neighbors stop piracy and other illegal activities in the Gulf of Guinea, and the Obangame Express exercise is one mechanism for helping Cameroon accomplish this objective."

Nine countries are participating in the exercise: The United States; Cameroon; Nigeria; Gabon; Republic of Congo, Sao Tome & Principe; France; Belgium; and Spain. Seven countries (the U.S., Cameroon, Nigeria, Gabon, France, Belgium, and Spain) and CEEAC have vessels and boats participating in the exercise. Foreign vessels involved in the exercise will begin arriving at the port of Douala on March 17. On March 21 the exercise will begin when the vessels leave the port to work together at open sea off the coast of Cameroon for two days. On March 23 some of the vessels will return to the port of Douala when the exercise has been completed.

The command center for the exercise is CEEAC's Center for Multinational Coordination (CMC), which is located at Cameroon's naval base in Douala. The CMC will be staffed by Americans, Cameroonians, and other international staff from the participating nations during the exercise.

For more information, please contact the United States Embassy in Yaounde, Press section Tel 22 20 15 00, ext 4162 or 4273.