From: United States Marine Corps
U.S., Senegal continue fight against illicit trafficking in West African nation
By Staff Sgt. Bryan Peterson, Marine Corps Forces Africa
U.S., Senegal continue fight against illicit trafficking in West African nation Senegalese soldiers completed a month-long training exercise with U.S. Marines, March 18, at a military training facility in Thies, Senegal. U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, trained their counterparts with Senegal’s Compagnie Fusilier de Marin Commando, or COFUMACO, in infantry tactics, making this the 10th training engagement the forces. In an effort to combat illicit trafficking in the region, the Marines were in Senegal at the request of the host nation government in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Dakar. The Marines trained with the COFUMACO in Toubacouta in the southern part of the country for two weeks before moving up to Thies.
THIES, Senegal — Senegalese soldiers completed a month-long training exercise with U.S. Marines, March 18, at a military training facility in Thies, Senegal.
U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, trained their counterparts with Senegal’s Compagnie Fusilier de Marin Commando, or COFUMACO, in infantry tactics, making this the 10th training between the two forces.
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The continued military partnership between the U.S. Marines and the COFUMACO aims to improve life in Senegal by increasing the country’s economy while defeating the illicit financial means funding terrorist groups in West Africa, including countries in the Gulf of Guinea.
Forms of illicit trafficking include cocaine, heroin, counterfeit medicine, people, small arms, diamonds, ivory and cigarettes, among others.
