On September 16, 2011, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) concluded a week-long cooperative border security workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania as part of a joint effort to enhance security at ports and borders in the region.

The workshop brought together participants from seven East African countries, as well as representatives from the East African Community, African Union, South Africa, international organizations, NNSA and other U.S. Government agencies to discuss perspectives and best practices on nonproliferation and security. Participants explored ways to strengthen efforts to prevent the smuggling of nuclear materials and other commodities related to the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

"The Department of Defense and other U.S. Government agencies are cooperating with their counterparts in East Africa to facilitate a comprehensive approach to counter illicit trafficking," said Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Balisky, chief of the Office of Security Cooperation, U.S. Embassy, Dar es Salaam. "Together, we have opened a door for deeper exchanges of assistance among regional partners."

The workshop, jointly sponsored by NNSA and AFRICOM, was the first of its kind conducted in East Africa. The East African Border Security Workshop follows a successful workshop held earlier this year in West Africa, organized by NNSA and the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and is a strong testament to the continued cooperation among nations to prevent the smuggling of nuclear materials and technology.

In Dar es Salaam, customs, defense, police, and law enforcement experts and officials from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Djibouti joined with experts from NNSA, AFRICOM, the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and State, the World Customs Organization, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and the Stimson Center to discuss border protection strategies for the region.

"We are pleased to work in global partnership with colleagues from across Africa, U.S. Government agencies, and international organizations to enhance border security and prevent nuclear smuggling," said NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Anne Harrington. "By promoting stronger border security practices across East Africa, we are working together to enhance global peace and security and implement President Obama's commitment to work with our international partners to secure nuclear material and technology related to WMD around the world."

The week-long workshop provided a forum for partners to share best practices, establish regional perspectives on border security, and participate in training courses focused on WMD commodity identification, radiological detection, and systems analysis. East Africa was selected not only for its vital position in global commerce routes, but also for the commitment of regional governments to enhance their cooperation, interoperability, and security, especially in combating illicit transnational trafficking activities.

"We are very pleased to share border security best practices across the East African Community. Despite language differences, the diversity of participation offers us new understanding of border security management," said Sub-Lieutenant Daher Foureh, Djibouti National Police, responsible for the southern region.

NNSA's Office of Nonproliferation and International Security, through its International Nonproliferation Export Control Program, works bilaterally and regionally with states that face threats from terrorist networks and need to develop and strengthen enforcement capacity to detect trafficking of dual-use technologies, nuclear and radiological materials, and other WMD-related commodities. The success of both the East and West African Border Security Workshops demonstrates the ongoing commitment of NNSA to work cooperatively with partners around the globe to enhance global security and nonproliferation.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation's national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from WMD; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad.