The Ministry of National Defense and Armed Forces of Liberia on Thursday hosted the closing ceremony of Operation Anouanze IV at the Freeport of Monrovia, marking the successful conclusion of the regional maritime security exercise.
The ceremony was attended by Mr. Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia, and Colonel John Tucker, Defence Attaché at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Liberia, alongside senior military officials and representatives of participating countries.
In his remarks, Mr. Konneh commended personnel who participated in Operation Anouanze IV, noting that the exercise demonstrated the effectiveness of ECOWAS’ vision for coordinated regional maritime operations.
He said the operation demonstrated that West African navies can operate alongside one another, share information in real time, and respond effectively to maritime security threats under a coordinated command structure.
Mr. Konneh described the participating personnel as a credible, professional and interoperable force capable of addressing the maritime security challenges facing the region. He reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to strengthening maritime domain awareness, joint training, equipment, intelligence-sharing and operational coordination among Member States.
He also called on Member States to sustain the political will demonstrated during the exercise, maintain interoperability among their naval forces, and deepen cooperation through the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres and the broader Gulf of Guinea maritime security architecture.
He stressed that the sea is not only a shared resource and source of livelihood but also a shared responsibility requiring collective regional action.
The Liberian Coast Guard (LCG) served as Liberia’s host maritime component, with its Commander designated as Operational Commander for the Liberian phase of the exercise.
From August 24 to 26, 2026, joint maritime patrols were conducted within Liberia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), with Liberian Coast Guard personnel embarked aboard naval vessels from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Personnel from Liberia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Guinea participated in the exercise, demonstrating a collective commitment to protecting territorial waters and maritime resources while strengthening regional security cooperation.
Other speakers at the ceremony highlighted the importance of regular joint maritime exercises in preventing and responding to illicit activities at sea, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, piracy and arms trafficking.
Operation Anouanze IV underscores Liberia’s continued commitment, in collaboration with ECOWAS and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to promoting a safe, secure and prosperous maritime environment across the Gulf of Guinea.
Mamawa S. Richards
Information Attachè
Sierra Leone Embassy
Monrovia, Liberia
