The principle staff and senior leadership of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Africa (MARFORAF) joined with 15 representatives from 11 African nations for the first Marine Leaders of Africa Conference in Stuttgart, Germany, August 24-27, 2009.

During the conference the Marines had a chance to establish a dialogue with African partner nations who have a Marine Corps or naval infantry force.

"The purpose of the conference is to enhance interoperability by sharing mindset, culture, and experiences with senior African Marine and/or naval infantry commanders that will open the door for future bilateral and regional cooperation," said Lieutenant Colonel Todd McAllister, conference coordinator.

In her opening remarks, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, Commander Brigadier General Tracy Garrett said the conference was a good chance for partner nations to cultivate those things they have or hope to have in common.

"Marine Forces Africa can help in defining the core capabilities of a nation's Marine Corps or naval infantry," Garrett said during the conference. "This is the first of what we hope will be a long line of conferences where those of us with a maritime linage address the security threats of the littoral region."

By getting together to discuss "Marine" issues, McAllister said the conference presented an opportunity for the forces to build on things held in common and look to the future to discuss how the forces can work together to complement each other.

"We are establishing relationships with our extended Marine Corps family," McAllister said. "On one hand, we are learning how and in what ways we can help our partners, but on the other hand we are focusing on interoperability and regional cooperation."
According to McAllister, equally important is that the United States listen and learn from the African partner nations. They bring a lot of experience in the region and play a critical role in supporting mutual strategic and security cooperation objectives, he said.

Throughout the four-day event the Marines and African leaders discussed a variety of topics ranging from the background of MARFORAF and U.S. Africa Command, to specific ways in which MARFORAF can assist in providing training and other guidance.

"I find the conference to be very useful, and it's useful to us all for different reasons," said Senegalese Colonel Halifa Ndione. "The world is different now. We must work together in order to share tactics and confront the threats that face us all."

One of the highlights of the conference was the chance to take part in the U.S. Africa Command's Non-Lethal Weapons Capabilities Exercise (CAPEX).

Through the CAPEX, the African representatives were given a first hand look at how non-lethal systems can be added to current tactics and techniques to serve a vital role across the spectrum of military operations.

"These systems are important to the African leaders for the same reasons they are important to us," said Tony Lewis, U.S. Africa Command's non-lethal weapons contract liaison officer. "They provide extra steps in the escalation of force and give the commander more options in a variety of missions, namely humanitarian and peace keeping operations."

The Marine Leaders of Africa Conference was designed to complement the Commandant of the Marine Corps' "Marine Leader's of the World" Conference, which is held biennially. The African partner nations in attendance were Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, and Sao Tome and Principe.