The ninth edition of the Grand African Nemo maritime security exercise is underway in the Gulf of Guinea, running from 27 October to 6 November 2026. This multinational operation involves personnel and vessels from nineteen African navies. Seven partner navies, including France, are also participating in the event. The training focuses on strengthening cooperation and operational readiness across the region. Activities are scheduled to take place at various maritime locations, including Ouidah and Sèmè-Podji in Benin, as well as San-Pédro in Côte d’Ivoire. Participating forces aim to improve response capabilities against illegal activities at sea throughout the designated exercise period.
The ninth edition of the Grand African Nemo exercise is taking place in the Gulf of Guinea from October 27 to November 6, 2026, providing a structured timeline for all regional naval activities. Nineteen African navies and seven partner navies, including France, are participating in the 2026 exercise to ensure a broad coalition of maritime security expertise.
Benin Coastal Security Maneuvers
Benin serves as a primary location for the current maritime maneuvers, with operations occurring along the coastline between Ouidah and Sèmè-Podji. In Benin, maritime maneuvers are scheduled to take place between Ouidah and Sèmè-Podji, utilizing the coastal geography to simulate realistic security challenges. These exercises integrate local security assets into the broader regional framework of the Grand African Nemo operation, ensuring that national efforts align with international standards of maritime vigilance and coordination.
Beninese teams are scheduled to conduct specific training exercises focused on combating accidental oil pollution from 2 November to 4 November 2026. Beninese teams will conduct exercises focused on combating accidental oil pollution from November 2 to November 4, 2026. These drills address environmental response procedures and inter-agency cooperation required to mitigate the impact of potential spills within the territorial waters of Benin. Personnel involved in these sessions will practice containment techniques and communication protocols designed to manage maritime emergencies. This segment of the training emphasizes the logistical necessity of rapid containment when environmental hazards occur in high-traffic maritime zones.
Judicial authorities will participate in a mock trial on 5 November 2026. A mock trial will be held on November 5, 2026, to test the capacity of judicial authorities to handle maritime offenses. This exercise aims to test the capacity of the legal system to handle maritime offenses effectively. Organizers intend for the simulation to evaluate the procedural coordination between naval forces and the courts when processing cases related to illegal activities at sea. Gildas Amoussou noted that the exercise provides a controlled environment to identify potential gaps in the current legal framework governing maritime security in the region. By recreating the stages of a criminal trial, participants can assess the speed and accuracy of evidence presentation and the application of maritime law. The simulation serves to verify that legal personnel are prepared to process complex maritime incidents with the required technical and legal precision.
