Twenty-two African partner nations and nine international partners gathered in Naples, Italy for the 2016 Africa Partnership Station Annual Planning Conference held from 3-6 May. Commander, Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) hosted the event, which enables coastal African participants to build maritime security capacity through security force assistance events and engagements. (AFRICOM photo by U.S. Navy Cdr. Robert Bulatao, AFRICOM Maritime Programs Officer/Released)

160503-N-OX801-094 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy (May 3, 2016) U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Chief of Staff, Rear Adm. Cathal O'Connor, center, and attendees of the Africa Partnership Station 2017 planning conference pose for a photo in Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, May 3, 2016. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partner, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Schumacher/ Released)

160410-G-XX888-864 (April 10, 2016) ATLANTIC OCEAN - U.S. coast guard law enforcement detachment members assist Senegalese navy personnel to conduct a boarding of a fishing vessel as part of Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership, April 10, 2016. The combined U.S.- Senegal operation was conducted from the Senegalese navy ship Kedougou (OPV 45), the first time ever AMLEP has been executed without a U.S. vessel. AMLEP is a U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet facilitated theater security cooperation initiative that aims to build African partner nation capacity to patrol and enforce maritime law within that nation's territorial waters and economic exclusive zone. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class Glen Hyzak/Released)

The Senegalese navy, Senegalese interagency representatives, and a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment completed a combined U.S.- Senegal law enforcement operation as part of Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership.

160325-N-QF605-066 DOUALA, Cameroon (March 25, 2016) - Capt. Sylvester Mbah Fonkoua, Chief of Multinational Coordination Center, salutes Gov. Ivaha Diboua during the Exercise Obangame/Saharan Express 2016 closing ceremony in Douala, Cameroon, March 25, 2016. Obangame/Saharan Express, one of three African regional express series exercises facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, seeks to increase regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing practices and improve interoperability among participating forces in order to enhance maritime security and regional economic stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Dunford/Released)

160325-N-QF605-107 DOUALA, Cameroon (March 25, 2016) - Vice Adm. Michael Franken, U.S. Africa Command deputy commander for military operations, speaks during the Exercise Obangame/Saharan Express 2016 closing ceremony in Douala, Cameroon, March 25, 2016. Obangame/Saharan Express, one of three African regional express series exercises facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, seeks to increase regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing practices and improve interoperability among participating forces in order to enhance maritime security and regional economic stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Dunford/Released)

160325-N-QF605-118 DOUALA, Cameroon (March 25, 2016) - U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, Michael S. Hoza, speaks during the Exercise Obangame/Saharan Express 2016 closing ceremony in Douala, Cameroon, March 25, 2016. Obangame/Saharan Express, one of three African regional express series exercises facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, seeks to increase regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing practices and improve interoperability among participating forces in order to enhance maritime security and regional economic stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Dunford/Released)

(Feb. 6, 2016) - A member of the Ghanaian Navy stands aboard a fishing vessel during a combined joint boarding operation Feb. 6, 2016. The Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station.

U.S. Marines and sailors teach Togolese and Beninese sailors combat lifesaver medical training, Nov. 3, in Lome, Togo. U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos trained the Togolese and Beninese sailors as part of the Africa Partnership Station, which is a U.S. Naval Forces Africa initiative that aims to increase the maritime safety and security capacity of African partners through collaboration and regional cooperation through engagement exercises that build toward self-sustained African security of the maritime domain.

U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos teach Nigerian sailors weapons handling skills and marksmanship, Oct. 22, in Sekondi, Ghana. U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos trained the Nigerian sailors as part of the Africa Partnership Station, which is a U.S. Naval Forces Africa initiative that aims to increase the maritime safety and security capacity of African partners through collaboration and regional cooperation through engagement exercises that build toward self-sustained African security of the maritime domain.

U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos teach Ghanaian Navy sailors room-clearing techniques, Oct. 22, in Sekondi, Ghana. U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos trained the Ghanaian Navy sailors as part of the Africa Partnership Station, which is a U.S. Naval Forces Africa initiative that aims to increase the maritime safety and security capacity of African partners through collaboration and regional cooperation through engagement exercises that build toward self-sustained African security of the maritime domain.