48 Proceedings Fall 2024 assistance to the Coast Guard for the execution of exist- ing maritime law enforcement agreements with African countries for the purpose of combatting transnational organized maritime crimes, including IUU fishing.6 This was achieved through hard work by various AFRICOM directorates that championed a proposal to change the law so DoD may assist the Coast Guard in conducting operations under bilateral agreements. While IUU fishing is one of the most significant threats to Africa, other mari- time security threats permeate. This new authority sig- nals the importance of the Coast Guard conducting joint operations with APN under these bilateral agreements. Countering IUU fishing is critical because in Africa, including the countries that are not littoral, the fishing sector supports the livelihoods of approximately 12.3 mil- lion people and provides a substantial food source across Africa.7 Depleting this food stock through IUU fishing has a profound impact on the continent’s food security. Operational Perspective of AMLEP As discussed above, AMLEP is the framework by which the United States and APN are able to execute missions aimed at denying, disrupting, and interdicting illicit activities at sea. To take full advantage of both countries’ authorities and jurisdiction during a combined opera- tion, there must be a bilateral agreement in place. Once in place, the increased enforcement capacity offered to a joint operation is a force multiplier. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVAF), a compo- nent of AFRICOM, has the goal of increasing the enforce- ment capabilities of African partners through joint maritime law enforcement operations, capacity- build- ing, and collaborative exercises. NAVAF facilitates the framework by assuming tactical control of Coast Guard cutters or Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) tran- siting into the AFRICOM area of responsibility. LEDETs accompany and provide technical assistance to African partners as they conduct real-world maritime law enforce- ment activities to detect, deter, and interdict criminals in their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. LEDETs also conduct capability assessments of African maritime partners to validate U.S. security cooperation investments, assess return on investment, and determine areas where additional investment is required. Training, equipping, and exercising are not sufficient to build a capability. The capability must be tested to determine its success in challenging, real-world condi- tions. For this reason, hands-on, practical application activities and combined operations are required. During these activities, African partner boarding teams—with the legal authority to search, seize, and arrest maritime criminals operating in their jurisdictional waters—exe- cute real-world maritime law enforcement activities with the help and technical assistance of LEDETs. LEDETs also use these practical application activities to validate training, equipping, and exercise programs conducted under 10 U.S.C. § 332, § 333, and § 321 and conduct assessments of African partner capabilities to determine future training and equipping requirements. AMLEP practical application activities and combined operations can be executed in one of three forms: 1. Coast Guard LEDETs and African ship riders operate from U.S. Navy or Coast Guard vessels. 2. Coast Guard LEDETs and African maritime law enforcement partners operate from African vessels. 3. Coast Guard LEDETs and African ship riders operate from third-party vessels, such as with European Union or NATO partners, or other international partners. Executing AMLEP practical application activities with Coast Guard LEDET assistance gives African maritime law enforcement partners the confidence they need to success- fully patrol their waters and interdict maritime criminals. This also bolsters their ability and confidence to execute independent maritime patrols once LEDETs depart. Without these practical application activities, AMLEP is incomplete, and AFRICOM cannot accurately assess whether U.S. training, equipment, and exercise invest- ments are expanding partner capabilities and advanc- ing U.S. regional interests. Without real-time, hands-on active coaching and mentoring during actual law enforce- ment activities, it is unlikely that partner capabilities will improve. Significant DoD investments in African maritime forces over the past several years, without practical application, is not enough to increase partner capabilities. If African maritime law enforcement capac- ity and capabilities do not improve, maritime crime will continue in the region. An important part of the maritime assessment is a tour of the major ports, the coast guard or naval bases, and the MOC. Members of the team, along with the part- ners, have a chance to board partner vessels, tour the mil- itary bases, meet watch standers in the MOC, and gain a deeper understanding of interagency coordination for suspected maritime offenses. The AFRICOM assessment team will include personnel with operational experience to provide the critical perspective of how the assets and facilities will support a future bilateral agreement. In Angola, our tour of the naval base included the naval training facility and an offshore patrol vessel homeported in Luanda, the capital. We also toured the MOC and observed how the watch standers commu- nicate with MOCs from other countries that are under the same Maritime Multinational Coordination Center (MMCC). In Africa, many of the maritime countries are parties to the Yaoundé Architecture, a regional strat- egy with the objective to promote regional maritime
