DAKAR - The Senegalese and US navy forces are staging a seven-day exercise along the Senegalese, Cape Verdian and Mauritanian coastal waters.

The joint exercise dubbed "Saharan Express 2013" began on Thursday as part of the military cooperation between the two countries.

The exercise is also joined by personnel from Morocco, Mauritania, Gambia, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Britain, France and Portugal.

Capt. Andrew Lenon from the United States, who is the director of "Saharan Express", said the joint exercise is an important opportunity for sharing of experiences from the US marine.