Latest Embassy News
USS Nashville Visits Cameroon
The USS Nashville departed Limbe April 13 after a nearly two-week stay in Cameroon. The ship visit was part of the United States’ Africa Partnership Station (APS) program and focused on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. During the stay, the crew of the Nashville and APS carried out a joint cooperation exercise with the French vessel FNS Tonnerre (click here for more information), conducted training exercises with the Cameroonian navy and marines both onboard and at three sites onshore, and participated in community relations projects to benefit Cameroonians.
APS focuses on building cooperative partnership with regional maritime services in order to achieve common international goals such as stability and security. APS brings an international team of maritime experts that includes military elements from the U.S, Europe and South America and collaborates with African nations to improve maritime professional capabilities and knowledge. Among the goals of APS are assisting partner countries with maritime challenges such as unlawful fishing, piracy, and illegal trafficking. Three Cameroonian officers are part of the official APS crew and have participated in the planning and execution of the Nashville’s mission as it has visited several West African nations and continues next to Gabon.
In addition to maritime safety and security engagements, the APS crew conducted a number of community outreach projects, including helping to refurbish the Ecole Maternelle Francophone de Limbe primary school and the delivery of medical, hygiene and school supplies to area schools, clinic and orphanages. APS sailors also helped rebuild a containment area at the Limbe Wildlife Center used to house drills, one of the most endangered primates in the world. It is estimated that there are only 3,000 drills remaining in the world, located in the northern coastal portion of Cameroon, the southwest part of neighboring Nigeria, and the island of Bioko.
Cameroonian media participated in a press conference in Douala with the APS Commodore, Captain Cindy Thebaud, as well as a day-long visit to APS community activities and tour of the USS Nashville in Limbe. Captain Thebaud and Cameroonian naval officers were able to explain the goals and activities of APS, and the tour of the vessel gave the more than 30 journalists the opportunity to see for themselves the work being done.
Ambassador Janet Garvey visited Buea and Limbe April 7 and 8 to see the efforts of the APS crew and visit the USS Nashville. The Ambassador attended a concert at the University of Buea organized by the American Corner in Buea featuring the U.S. Navy band Flagship, who also conducted a seminar with UB music students. Ambassador Garvey also visited the Man O’ War naval base in Limbe to view the training activities being conducted there, witnessed the various community events carried out by the APS crew, and toured the Nashville. The Ambassador’s visit was capped off by a reception hosted in Limbe that brought together members of the Nashville and APS crew with their Cameroonian counterparts and partners. Flagship performed at the reception, which was a fitting event to celebrate a successful visit.