Exercise Central Accord 2016 kicked-off with an opening ceremony June 13 in Gabon. Central Accord is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations.

Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Gaspard Olame Ndong, deputy chief of the general staff of the Gabonese Armed Forces, Brig. Gen. Jon Jensen, U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general, and Lt. Col. James Lander, deputy commanding officer of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, welcomed military planners from 16 African and European nations to the main planning event for Central Accord 2016. Central Accord is an annual exercise that brings together partner nations to demonstrate mission command proficiency for a United Nations peacekeeping operation, improve multi-echelon operations and develop multinational logistical and communications capabilities.

Planners from the U.S., Gabon and 14 other African and European nations met in Gabon Dec. 7-11 to conduct the main planning event for Central Accord 2016, which is scheduled to take place in June.