Historic U.S. Naval Visit Reinforces U.S.-Côte d’Ivoire Security Partnership > United States Navy > News Display
Adm. George M. Wikoff, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF), visited Abidjan this week, marking the highest-level U.S. Navy visit to the country and underscoring the growing strength of the U.S.–Côte d’Ivoire defense partnership.
During his visit to Abidjan, Wikoff met with Abroulaye Fofana, the Permanent Secretary of the Interministerial Committee in Charge of State Actions at Sea, to discuss maritime interoperability and cooperation. He then met with General d’Armée Lassina Doumbia, Chief of the Defense Staff, to advance U.S.–Côte d’Ivoire defense cooperation, with a focus on regional stability and shared interests in the Gulf of Guinea.
Wikoff also met with Rear Admiral Amara Koné, Deputy Chief of the Côte d’Ivoire Navy, to discuss maritime operations, exercises, and cooperation.
The leaders focused their discussions on how naval forces can achieve interoperability through combined exercises, operations, and information sharing. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct as a framework for enhancing regional maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Cote d’Ivoire and the United States share direct interests in maritime security,” said Wikoff. “By working together, we can help ensure the sea lanes remain open and free for legitimate commerce in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Junaid Munir, Chargé d’Affaires at U.S. Embassy Abidjan, added, “Our partnership with Côte d’Ivoire is delivering real results – advancing shared security interests while expanding opportunities for American and Ivoirian businesses through increased trade, investment, and shared prosperity.”
Wikoff also recognized Côte d’Ivoire’s participation in the annual multinational maritime exercise Obangame Express, the largest annual multinational maritime exercise in Africa. Led by NAVAF and hosted by different African nations each year, its goal is to improve regional cooperation, maritime information sharing, and countering illegal activity at sea. It specifically focuses on Gulf of Guinea security through joint training to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, illegal trafficking, and piracy.
For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa has forged strategic relationships to preserve security. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.