The Gambia Navy participated in the Grand African Nemo exercise on the 3rd and 4th of November 2018. The Exercise was held within The Gambia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters in collaboration with other West African navies and the French Navy. African Nemo is an operational cooperation exercise conducted by France in order to develop and reinforce the security of maritime areas set up by the Yaoundé Process, and therefore contributing to the freedom of Navigation in this area of interest. 
The main aim of the exercise is to support the Yaounde Process by improving the operationalization of navies, national, regional and international structures of command. The Gambia Navy patrol boat GNS Kunta Kinteh was deployed with a sea rider and a crew of 20 personnel including 3 officers and a boarding team. During the two-day exercise, the boarding team took part in executing scenarios such as counter narcotics and counter Illegal Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU).
The Gambia Navy’s boarding team boarded the French warship FS VENTOSE to conduct the above scenarios. The boarding procedures and techniques were successfully executed and the boarding team was commended by the international organizers for the level of professionalism and commitment displayed during the exercise. Meanwhile, command and control of the patrol boat’s activities were being conducted at the Maritime Operations Center in the Naval Command where 5 international observers were hosted.
