Multinational planners put final touches on Exercise Unified Focus 2017 in Cameroon

Countering violent extremist organizations in Lake Chad Basin focus of exercise.

“The objective is to reinforce the coordination between all nations for a positive result. The coordination between nations and between MNJTF sectors is a very important factor in its success.” Maj. Gen. Saly

By Capt. Jason Welch , U.S. Army Africa DOUALA, Cameroon Feb 15, 2017

View Gallery

Gallery contains 10 images

Military planners from the U.S., Cameroon and seven other African and European nations met from Feb. 6-9, 2017, to finish the planning and preparation for the inaugural U.S. Army Africa-led exercise Unified Focus 2017, scheduled to take place in April.

UF17 is a tabletop exercise that brings the military partners of the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s Multinational Joint Task Force together to practice joint planning and coordination through a series of vignettes.

The planning event began with recognition of the recent loss of Cameroonian Brig. Gen. Jacob Kodji and three other officers in a helicopter crash.

“This exercise that we're planning is a counterterrorism exercise, and on the 22nd of January, Brig. Gen. Kodji and three of his comrades were killed on the battlefield in the fight against terrorism,” said Cameroonian Maj. Gen. Saly Mohamadou, commander of the 2nd Military Region and senior host for the planning event. “I know that some of you in the audience know Gen. Kodji. I would like to take a moment of silence in his memory and his teammates that were killed.”

Saly also reminded everyone that the purpose of UF17 was to enable participants to counter the violence of extremist organizations like those operating in the Lake Chad Basin area.

“I'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate Cameroon's dedication to counterterrorism,” Saly said. “We would like to represent everyone's fight against terrorism in this exercise. We salute everyone's efforts in counterterrorism, including the United States. It's a multinational effort led by the United States to fight terrorism, especially against Boko Haram.”

In addition to members of the U.S. and Cameroonian military, planners also represented Benin, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Italy.

“All of the nations involved in the MNJTF are integral in this fight. Your efforts are appreciated by our population. All of the efforts from all the nations represented here today show the determination of all the countries against terrorism and against violence. It's this synergy that created the MNJTF,” said Saly. “It is because of these efforts from the MNJTF and all these nations that U.S. Africa Command got involved and decided to create Unified Focus 2017.”

“This tabletop exercise was created by AFRICOM to specifically focus on the Lake Chad Basin region,” said Brig. Gen. Kenneth Moore, U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general and Army Reserve Engagement Cell chief. “The exercise will provide realistic training scenarios to a group of military personnel as well as civilian personnel from Cameroon, Chad, Benin, Nigeria and Niger.”

Moore also congratulated the Cameroonian’s national soccer team after its weekend victory in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

“I'd like to congratulate Cameroon's Indomitable Lions in their victory last night. U.S. Army Africa's motto is ‘Lions Lead’ and the Lions definitely led last night,” said Moore.

The vignettes planned for the tabletop exercise focus on the counter Boko Haram operations of the MNJTF with an additional focus on regional security and stability. Each of the vignettes requires participants to consider civilian concerns and interagency coordination.

“This exercise is incredibly important for the prosperity, the security and cooperation of our nations. That includes the organizations that are participating as well: Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), all our non-governmental organization partners, and the U.S. State Department,” Moore said.

Final planning event attendees also included representatives from the Center for Civilians in Conflict, the Africa Union and the International Committee of the Red Cross, said Moore.

Planners representing the various military and civilian organizations provided final inputs to the vignettes throughout the week. Then they chose one of the scenarios and broke into multinational and interagency work groups to discuss the vignette just as the exercise participants will in April.

Results from these discussions allowed planners to put the finishing details into the scenarios and identify any issues prior to the exercise.

“I'm very excited that we were able to finalize our plans for the exercise this week,” said Maj. Aaron Smith, who serves with the U.S. Embassy Yaounde office of security cooperation.

“It's together that we can ensure a lasting peace for the region. As Ambassador [Michael] Hoza likes to say ‘we march on together,’” said Smith.

“Your mission is noble. It's for this reason that I challenge you to be creative. Your first planning conference started everything off, and this time you finalized the exercise plan,” said Saly.

“I would urge you to remember how important what you're doing this week is. Your assisting efforts are helping fight terrorism in the region,” said Saly, who concluded by saying, “Long live international cooperation and long live Cameroon.”

U.S. Africa Command and Cameroon Armed Forces Host West Africa Logistics Conference in Douala

U.S. Africa Command Head Advances U.S.-Nigeria Cooperation

AFRICOM Commander visits Chad

Military Leaders Convene in Naples for AFRICOM Strategic Alignment Conference

Exercise Obangame Express 23 aids maritime security and prosecution in the Gulf of Guinea

AFRICOM Hosts 2024 Joint Staff Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) Worldwide Workshop

AFRICOM recently hosted the Joint Staff 2024 Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) Worldwide Workshop, a key event in the Joint Logistics Enterprise calendar.

USS Hershel “Woody” Williams arrives in Tema, Ghana

The U.S. and Ghana share a strong history of promoting maritime peace and stability in the Gulf of Guinea. The Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) arrived in Tema, Ghana for a routine port visit, Oct. 2, 2023.

Communications directorate keeps HOA connected

The Expeditionary Communications Directorate’s overall mission is to provide the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa with the best advice on equipment and capability while advancing cyber defense, and joint and coalition interoperability. This enables the joint force to develop, maintain, and strengthen strategic access, influence, operations, and regional security throughout East Africa.

AFRICOM Hosts 2024 Joint Staff Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) Worldwide Workshop

AFRICOM recently hosted the Joint Staff 2024 Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) Worldwide Workshop, a key event in the Joint Logistics Enterprise calendar.

USS Hershel “Woody” Williams arrives in Tema, Ghana

Communications directorate keeps HOA connected

AFRICOM Hosts 2024 Joint Staff Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) Worldwide Workshop

AFRICOM recently hosted the Joint Staff 2024 Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) Worldwide Workshop, a key event in the Joint Logistics Enterprise calendar.

USS Hershel “Woody” Williams arrives in Tema, Ghana

Communications directorate keeps HOA connected

United States Africa Command

Multinational planners put final touches on Exercise Unified Focus 2017 in Cameroon

Countering violent extremist organizations in Lake Chad Basin focus of exercise.