US Military Conducts First Maritime Drill With West African Forces

The U.S. Military conducted its first maritime drill with West African forces as part of the Flintlock program. [{ "selector": ".adrec-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 424px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

350 soldiers from Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria participated in the drill. [{ "selector": ".usegc-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 424px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The objective of the program is to assist coastal states in combating maritime threats like drugs, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and piracy. [{ "selector": ".optkq-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 408px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The financial Transparency Coalition estimates that IUU fishing is costing West Africa $9.4 billion through unlawful financial flows. [{ "selector": ".nkped-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 414px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

8 of the top 10 companies involved are Chinese-flagged vessels which often ignore regulations. [{ "selector": ".kxjai-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 424px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Commodore Godwin Livinus Bessing from Ghana’s Naval Training Command is focusing on curbing IUU fishing due to a shortage of resources. [{ "selector": ".gusaz-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 401px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Incidents of piracy in the region have decreased since 2021. [{ "selector": ".anoag-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 424px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]