Maritime insecurity stalls economic development

The prevalence of arm robbery and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has slowed-down trade and economic development and international shipping in countries of the region.

Countries like Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon among others reportedly lost between $33 and $100 million on marine attack in 2012. These countries depend on shipping as a means of exporting or importing cargoes via ships.

It was, as a result, of this that the Head of States and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Economic Community of Central Africa States ECCAS, the Gulf of Guinea Commission, GGC met recently in Yaoundé to discuss on the security and maritime safety in the gulf of guinea.

Speaking at the summit, Colonel Antoine Leroy, the representative of ECCAS, said their goal enhances the promotion and reinforcement of a harmonized cooperation and dynamic development which is balanced and managed in all domains.

He added that due to the socio-political instability in majority of it member states, they have as objective to see that peace and security.

¨In this vein it took a collective measure to fight against crime in October 2009, the global structure of common maritime security dubbed Central Africa Regional Centre for Maritime Security was created, he stated.

For his part, Colonel Abdourahmane Dieng representing ECOWAS stressed on the point that ECOWAS and ECCAS must strengthen cooperation in other to combat maritime insecurity.

According to him, they can only achieve by working together in order to fight against crimes in the gulf of guinea that will create a favourable business climate in the region.

Meanwhile, the American’s Military Commander for Africa, Philip Heyl, pointed out that crime needs a regional solution.

There was also the creation of an Inter-Regional Working Group, IWG, responsible for drafting the organizational documents of the Inter-regional Coordination Center, ICC.

The Summit that started June 3 will end June 6.