Initiated by the Yaoundé Summit, efforts to bolster maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea culminated in a pivotal Paris-Brest seminar. This collaborative initiative highlights regional cooperation and strategic partnerships, pivotal in safeguarding the critical maritime interests of Central and West Africa.
Commitment to Maritime Security: The Yaoundé Summit and Regional Collaboration
In 2013, leaders from Gulf of Guinea countries, spanning from Senegal to Angola, and regional organizations, pledged to enhance maritime security in Central and West Africa. This commitment was reinforced during the June 2013 Yaoundé Summit, aligning with United Nations Security Council resolutions. It set up a comprehensive framework to tackle maritime insecurity, focusing on piracy and armed attacks at sea. The Yaoundé process aims to establish 26 specialized security centers across the coastline, operating from national to inter-regional levels.
Operational Collaboration: Insights from the State Action at Sea Seminar in Paris and Brest
From June 9 to 14, Paris and Brest hosted the first State Action at Sea seminar for senior maritime authorities of the Gulf of Guinea. Organized by the Secretary General of the Sea and the Commander of the Atlantic Maritime Zone, the seminar continued operational cooperation between the French Navy and Gulf partners under the Yaoundé Architecture. Discussions covered coast guard operations, cybersecurity, the blue economy, combating illicit trafficking and marine pollution, sustainable development, search and rescue operations, fisheries enforcement, hydrography, and oceanography. In Brest, participants visited facilities demonstrating various aspects of Maritime Action State (AEM) missions.
France, a key partner in the Yaoundé Architecture, plays a crucial role in enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. The French Navy’s permanent presence in the region underscores their commitment to operational cooperation and capacity-building efforts with Gulf countries. This collaboration, showcased by the seminar, highlights France’s proactive approach in addressing maritime challenges and fostering effective security measures at sea.
Seminar participants included key figures such as the Permanent Secretary of Congo’s Interministerial Committee for State Action at Sea and Inland Waters, the Special Advisor to Gabon’s President and Permanent Secretary of the National Council for the Sea, the Permanent Secretary of Côte d’Ivoire’s Interministerial Committee for State Action at Sea, the Secretary General of Senegal’s High Authority for coordinating maritime security, safety, and marine environmental protection, as well as Maritime Prefects from Benin and Guinea, and the Director of State Action at Sea from Togo.
The seminar underscores active participation and collaboration among entities from the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States, and the Gulf of Guinea Commission.
