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Bomber Task Force mission to West Africa exercises counter-illicit maritime capabilities

U.S. Coast Guard LCDR. Dixon Whitley, International Port Security Liaison Officer, works with aircrew on an Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, RAF Fairford, England, during a Bomber Task Force mission to southeastern Mauritania and along the west coast of Africa. During the mission, aircrew and U.S. Coast Guard members aboard the aircraft exercised their ability to conduct counter-illicit maritime tracking efforts, Feb. 28, 2022. U.S. Coast Guard members are trained to identify and track illegal operating vessels, such as those conducting illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities, and then transmit the vessel's location to the appropriate law enforcement authority. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

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Photo by: U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs 

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Bomber Task Force mission to West Africa exercises counter-illicit maritime capabilities

U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress’ assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, RAF Fairford, England, flew a Bomber Task Force mission to southeastern Mauritania and along the west coast of Africa, where aircrew and U.S. Coast Guard members aboard the aircraft exercised their ability to conduct counter-illicit maritime tracking efforts, Feb. 28, 2022. U.S. Coast Guard members are trained to identify and track illegally operating vessels, such as those conducting illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities, and then transmit the vessel's location to the appropriate law enforcement authority. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

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Photo by: U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs 

Two U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Royal Air Force Fairford, flew a Bomber Task Force mission to southeastern Mauritania and along the west coast of Africa, where aircrew and U.S. Coast Guard members aboard the aircraft exercised their ability to conduct counter-illicit maritime tracking efforts, Feb. 28, 2022.  

As part of its mission, the U.S. Coast Guard works to identify and track illegally operating vessels, such as those conducting illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities, and then transmit the vessel’s location to the appropriate law enforcement authority.  This type of collaboration builds shared maritime domain awareness that allows our partners to better target those areas for law enforcement actions.

Illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing depletes fishers throughout Africa’s coast countries, threatens maritime security, and endangers the African economies that rely on the ocean for food and trade.  U.S. Africa Command and the U.S. Coast Guard assist African partner nations’ efforts to safeguard continued, sustainable use of maritime resources and enable maritime trade.  

Mauritania and U.S. Africa Command have a longstanding relationship that includes bilateral cooperation, including this Bomber Task Force mission, as well as participation in multilateral exercises.  Mauritania plays a key role in regional stability and is a founding member of the G5 Sahel.