Just In : French Navy Warship Mistral Lands In Nigeria (DETAILS)
The French Navy’s amphibious assault ship, Mistral, is currently in Nigeria to participate in the joint exercises Crocodile Lift and Grand African Nemo, which commenced on Monday.
These exercises were initiated on board the Nigerian Navy ship Kada on October 9 and will continue until October 15. Nigeria has deployed five of its warships (NNS Kada, NNS Aba, NNS Udu, NNS Kano, and the DB Lagos) along with two helicopters. The French Navy is contributing the Mistral and the Ventose surveillance frigate, both already stationed in the Gulf of Guinea as part of Operation Corymbe. Additionally, France will provide a Falcon 50 maritime surveillance aircraft and an Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft.
The primary focus of the exercise is to practice countering various threats, including piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, and maritime pollution.
Exercise Grand African Nemo involves participation from eighteen countries in the region, ranging from Senegal to Angola. The Brazilian Navy ship, OPV Amazonas, is among the participating vessels.
“Since 2018, Grand African Nemo has become the major annual meeting for maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea,” the French Navy said. France organizes each year, within the framework of the 2013 Yaoundé Protocol, three to four African Nemo regional maritime exercises and a major Grand African Nemo exercise.
Exercise Crocodile Lift, an amphibious sea drill, was inaugurated for the first time in November 2023. The decision to combine these two exercises stemmed from the concurrent scheduling of both events and the necessity for a comprehensive strategy towards maritime security.
During the official commencement of the exercise, Nigerian Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, emphasized the imperative for both national and international cooperation in addressing the challenges confronting the Gulf of Guinea, notably oil theft.
“Exercises Crocodile Lift and Grand African Nemo, which have both become annual events, are some of the well thought out international exercises involving the Nigerian Navy. It is gratifying to note that these exercises have further enhanced effective collaboration against maritime insecurity such as crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, piracy, sea robbery, hostage taking as well as illegal unreported and unregulated fishing,” he said.
“Overall, I am optimistic that these exercises will add impetus to my vision to have a ‘highly motivated professional naval force capable of shaping the security outcomes within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the littorals including land-based engagements in fulfilment of Nigeria’s national interest’. Additionally, the exercises will further fulfil the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to the objectives of the Yaoundé protocol in ensuring maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea,” Ogalla said.
“The presence in Lagos of our landing helicopter dock Mistral in the framework of the Corymbe mission and of the European Union’s coordinated maritime presence appears today as a tangible sign of the confidence that is now established between our two navies,” French Defence Attache to Nigeria Colonel Laurent Favier noted.
Since 1990, France has maintained a near-constant presence in the Gulf of Guinea through the deployment of one or two French vessels, complemented by a maritime patrol aircraft, as part of Operation Corymbe.
The French Navy stated that by enhancing the capabilities of local navies, France is actively contributing to the reinforcement of the security framework established through the Yaoundé process.
