The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union (EU) have concluded a high-level seminar on maritime security in Abuja, Nigeria, aimed at strengthening efforts to combat maritime insecurity in West Africa.
The two-day seminar was organised under the Support Project for Integrated Maritime Security in West Africa (SWAIMS), a project funded by the European Union to enhance maritime security cooperation among ECOWAS member states.
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The meeting focused on refining arrangements for the distribution of essential maritime security equipment to coastal ECOWAS countries. A total of 30 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) were expected to be provided to support coastal states in fighting maritime threats.
The Head of ECOWAS’ Regional Security Division, Colonel Abdourahmane Dieng, called on participating institutions to strengthen collaboration in addressing maritime threats affecting the region.
He stressed that security and development were closely linked, noting that no country or region could successfully tackle maritime insecurity alone.
“Turning the tide against maritime insecurity is a collaborative effort,” he said, adding that cooperation among countries and international partners was necessary to protect the Gulf of Guinea.
Colonel Dieng explained that ECOWAS, together with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), had developed the Yaoundé Code of Conduct as a framework for improving maritime security cooperation across the Gulf of Guinea.
The EU Senior Coordinator for the Gulf of Guinea, Ambassador Nicolas Berlanga Martinez, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting West Africa’s maritime security efforts and strengthening the relationship between the two regions.
The seminar brought together representatives from the 12 coastal ECOWAS member states, including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as officials from defence, transport and foreign affairs institutions. (Ghana News Agency)
The participants agreed that continued cooperation, improved equipment and stronger regional coordination were essential to tackling piracy, illegal activities at sea and other maritime security challenges affecting West Africa. (modernghana.com)
