Yaounde Becomes Anti-Piracy Centre

The creation of an Inter-regional Coordination Centre on Maritime Safety and Security for the Central and West African maritime space with headquarters in Yaounde and the adoption of the Code of Conduct on the prevention and repression of acts of piracy, armed robbery against vessels and illicit activities in the West and Central African maritime area are two major decisions that will remain fresh in the minds of many who witnessed the closing ceremony of the Heads of State and governments' Summit that ended at the Yaounde Conference Centre yesterday.

Presided at by President Idriss Deby Igno of Chad in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Commission for Central African States (ECCAS), the eight Heads of State present at the closing left the hall with smiling faces visibly translating the satisfaction of having laid a solid foundation to trash a problem that is capable of destabilising the socio-economic life of the region. In all, twelve Heads of State took part in the Summit. The decision to create the Inter-regional Coordination Centre in Yaounde is contained in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Secretaries General of the Economic Commission for Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), the final communiqué read by Cameroon's Minister of External Relations, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo stated.

The Heads of State and Governments of the Gulf of Guinea Commission who met in Yaounde from June 24 to 25 took the commitment in a Yaounde Declaration to work together to promote peace and security in West and Central Africa, establish an inter-community cooperation and draw up a joined operational process to fight piracy and other illicit activities in their maritime space. In his closing speech, Cameroon's President, Paul Biya who was hailed in preceding speeches for hosting the summit with all hospitality, expressed his gratitude and saluted the constructive spirit that characterised the two-day discussion. The Yaounde meeting, he said demonstrates African solidarity and concrete prove of its determination to put all that is required in place in order to guarantee maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. Judging from the seriousness and commitment of the discussions, President Biya stated his conviction that the meeting has significantly advanced the fight against maritime piracy.

He was particularly appreciative of all preceding meetings and decisions that have contributed in one way or the other to move forward the struggle to significantly reduce or end acts of piracy in the region. The determination of the Heads of State and governments of the Gulf of Guinea could be felt during the press conference given by President Idriss Deby Itno, Chairman of ECCAS and President Alassane Dramane Outtara, Chairman of ECOWAS. The decision taken in Yaounde notably, the Code of Conduct will enter into application immediately, President Deby said. As to how the project to fight piracy will be financed, he said, a committee or a structure will be put up to draw up the modalities. "Experts will meet and tell us, that is when we will know the contribution of each State and international partners", he said.