The Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Richard Yoneoka, has congratulated AFRICOM representative Norman Kukona on receiving the Gambia Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal.
On December 1, the Gambian Armed Forces decorated AFRICOM representative Norman K. Kukona with the Distinguished Service Medal.
Norman Kukona, a civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense, supports the counternarcotics division of U.S. AFRICOM and has travelled regularly to The Gambia since 2011.
Fulfilling American bilateral agreements to strengthen Gambia’s military, Kukona was instrumental in providing, installing, and maintaining equipment used in The Gambia’s Maritime Operations Center (MOC) and the Joint Operations Center (JOC), Gambian Navy, Gambian Army, and is working on a project for the National Drug Enforcement Agency.
The United States donated communication and computer equipment valued at more than $500,000 to The Gambia in support of these projects.
The Distinguished Service Medal and accompanying certificate demonstrates the Gambian Armed Forces’ appreciation for continued cooperation and assistance from the United States.
