INTERPOL SHOWS INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THE AFRICAN UNION 2050 AFRICA’S INTEGRATED MARTIME STRATEGY (2050 AIM-STRATEGY) TASK FORCE

Lyon, December 12, 2013 - At the invitation of Interpol, a delegation from the African Union (AU), led by Mr Okechukwu Emmanuel IBE, Bureau of the AUC Chairperson, made the trip to the Headquarters of Interpol in Lyon to inter alia discus the AU’s 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM-Strategy) Task Force and prospect viable ways for fruitful cooperation between the two (2) Institutions.

The AU delegation, made up of the following members: Mr. Bertino Matias Matondo, Bureau of the AUC Chairperson, and Mr. Samuel Kame-Domguia, Coordinator of the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM-Strategy) Task Force, held meetings with Interpol Secretary-General, Mr. Ronald NOBLE and his Maritime Security Staff. AU Commission-Interpol Plan of Action was at the center of the discussions. The Interpol leadership expressed their unconditional support towards the AU 2050 AIM-Strategy and its Plan of Action. They went a step further by deciding to partner with the AU Commission in providing support in the implementation of the Yaoundé Inter-regional Coordination Centre on Maritime Safety and Security for Central and West Africa, as well as the operationalization of Regional Maritime Centers throughout Africa.

During these four (4) days, the mission of the AU delegation was punctuated by various visits to Interpol key information sharing and coordination installations, as well as numerous presentations delivered by the host organization on, among others, maritime safety and security program, marine environmental crime and maritime security initiatives, illegal trafficking in Africa, and counter terrorism measures.

At the end of the visit, both parties agreed to further explore possibilities of developing win-win cooperation frameworks, particularly in the fields of capacity building and experience sharing from lessons learned.

The outcome of such a visit would undoubtedly help the 2050 AIM-Strategy Task Force better sharpen the implementation of the 2050 AIM-Strategy and its Plan of Action for the sake of better promoting the interests of African populations as well as enhancing the global security standards.

For further details on the 2050 AIM-Strategy and its Plan of Action, please visit: www.au.int/maritime