Operational brief
Gather intelligence and take direct action against groups or individuals taking part or colluding in the funding of terrorist activities via drugs trafficking through Guinea-Bissau.
The NASOE CCC will be covertly deployed in the capital city, Bissau, and will manage SI and SO assets deployed in the area.
Operational location – Guiné Bissau (Guinea-Bissau)
Guinea-Bissau, officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Portuguese: República da Guiné-Bissau, pronounced: [ʁeˈpublikɐ dɐ ɡiˈnɛ biˈsaw]), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west. It covers 36,125 km² (nearly 14,000 sq. mi) with an estimated population of 1,600,000.
Upon independence, declared in 1973 and recognised in 1974, the name of its capital, Bissau, was added to the country's name to prevent confusion with Guinea (formerly French Guinea). Guinea-Bissau has a history of political instability since independence, and no elected president has successfully served a full five-year term.
Guinea-Bissau, a minor West African state south of Senegal
Recent political events
On the evening of 12 April 2012, members of the country's military staged a coup d'état and arrested the interim president and a leading presidential candidate. Former vice chief of staff, General Mamadu Ture Kuruma, assumed control of the country in the transitional period and started negotiations with opposition parties.
In early 2016 Mamadu Ture Kuruma was replaced by president José Mário Vaz of the PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde), one of the two major political parties in Guinea-Bissau. Following his appointment and in an attempt to address UN concerns about local corruption Air Force Head Ibraima Papa Camara, who has been named as a “drug kingpin” by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, was ousted from his position in the military. It is believed that Ibraima Papa Camara has continued to build and run his organised crime cartel from the coastal regions of the country.
The current situation of Guinea-Bissau would not usually be of interest to NATO or the NASOE, however recent events have brought a focus to this minor West African state.
Mission specifics
In recent months Guinea-Bissau seems to have become a hub for the trafficking of narcotics from South America and Africa onward into Europe. Intelligence reports point towards the increase also being linked to a revival of hostile activities of the PRS against the local government, the PIAGC, and for a spate of violent gang land killings in the African region and Europe. Deep cover intelligence analysis from NASOE R&A directly links senior elements of the PRS with the purchase of large quantities of arms and munitions, some of which has been high tec. in nature. There is a growing concern across UN states that the weapons are being purchased for onward supply to terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and IS (Islamic State).
The NASOE is to be deployed into Guinea-Bissau to ascertain the extent of PRS involvement with known fundamental Islamic terror groups and where possible to damage or destroy the use of the organised narcotics trade to support further funding of such groups.
NASOE SO deployment
SO (Special Operations) squad ‘Osprey’ is to be deployed to the north of Rio Mansoa (Region Biombo) in the north west of the country approximately 90km from the capital city. SO squad ‘Vulture’ will deploy in the Quinara region to the south of the Rio Geba. Both SO forces will deploy under the guise of PMC (Private Military Company) under the command of local military leadership fighting against the PRS.
Regional map of state
Initially NASOE SO forces will act as intelligence gathers in the current combat zone. It is anticipated that both squads will be involved in direct action against PRS in their cover role as PMC and are authorised to use deadly force to maintain cover.
NASOE CCC will redirect SO forces as required based upon ‘on the’ ground intelligence and tactical decisions to achieve Operation Cerberus mission objectives.
Both SO squads are to utilise local weaponry and equipment to ensure there is no association with NATO military forces.
Gather intelligence and take direct action against groups or individuals taking part or colluding in the funding of terrorist activities via drugs trafficking through Guinea-Bissau.
The NASOE CCC will be covertly deployed in the capital city, Bissau, and will manage SI and SO assets deployed in the area.
Operational location – Guiné Bissau (Guinea-Bissau)
Guinea-Bissau, officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Portuguese: República da Guiné-Bissau, pronounced: [ʁeˈpublikɐ dɐ ɡiˈnɛ biˈsaw]), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west. It covers 36,125 km² (nearly 14,000 sq. mi) with an estimated population of 1,600,000.
Upon independence, declared in 1973 and recognised in 1974, the name of its capital, Bissau, was added to the country's name to prevent confusion with Guinea (formerly French Guinea). Guinea-Bissau has a history of political instability since independence, and no elected president has successfully served a full five-year term.
Guinea-Bissau, a minor West African state south of Senegal
Recent political events
On the evening of 12 April 2012, members of the country's military staged a coup d'état and arrested the interim president and a leading presidential candidate. Former vice chief of staff, General Mamadu Ture Kuruma, assumed control of the country in the transitional period and started negotiations with opposition parties.
In early 2016 Mamadu Ture Kuruma was replaced by president José Mário Vaz of the PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde), one of the two major political parties in Guinea-Bissau. Following his appointment and in an attempt to address UN concerns about local corruption Air Force Head Ibraima Papa Camara, who has been named as a “drug kingpin” by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, was ousted from his position in the military. It is believed that Ibraima Papa Camara has continued to build and run his organised crime cartel from the coastal regions of the country.
The current situation of Guinea-Bissau would not usually be of interest to NATO or the NASOE, however recent events have brought a focus to this minor West African state.
Mission specifics
In recent months Guinea-Bissau seems to have become a hub for the trafficking of narcotics from South America and Africa onward into Europe. Intelligence reports point towards the increase also being linked to a revival of hostile activities of the PRS against the local government, the PIAGC, and for a spate of violent gang land killings in the African region and Europe. Deep cover intelligence analysis from NASOE R&A directly links senior elements of the PRS with the purchase of large quantities of arms and munitions, some of which has been high tec. in nature. There is a growing concern across UN states that the weapons are being purchased for onward supply to terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and IS (Islamic State).
The NASOE is to be deployed into Guinea-Bissau to ascertain the extent of PRS involvement with known fundamental Islamic terror groups and where possible to damage or destroy the use of the organised narcotics trade to support further funding of such groups.
NASOE SO deployment
SO (Special Operations) squad ‘Osprey’ is to be deployed to the north of Rio Mansoa (Region Biombo) in the north west of the country approximately 90km from the capital city. SO squad ‘Vulture’ will deploy in the Quinara region to the south of the Rio Geba. Both SO forces will deploy under the guise of PMC (Private Military Company) under the command of local military leadership fighting against the PRS.
Regional map of state
Initially NASOE SO forces will act as intelligence gathers in the current combat zone. It is anticipated that both squads will be involved in direct action against PRS in their cover role as PMC and are authorised to use deadly force to maintain cover.
NASOE CCC will redirect SO forces as required based upon ‘on the’ ground intelligence and tactical decisions to achieve Operation Cerberus mission objectives.
Both SO squads are to utilise local weaponry and equipment to ensure there is no association with NATO military forces.
