AU’S 2050 AIM STRATEGY ONCE MORE IN THE SPOTLIGHTS AT THE SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF ECCAS, ECOWAS AND CGG

Yaoundé June 24-25, 2013 - Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea

Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Commission of the Gulf of Guinea (CGG), gathered on June 24-25, 2013 in Yaoundé, Cameroon to adopt key strategic documents in response to illicit and illegal activities in the Gulf of Guinea. This summit showed the increasing commitment of African leaders to express political will and set the leadership tone in the governance of African Maritime Domain.

The two-day Yaoundé Summit on safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea will remain vibrant in the annals of history, thanks to the attendance by twenty-five (25) African Union (AU) Member States. Over 1.000 people participated in the Summit.

Besides the host, His Excellency Paul Biya from Cameroon, Alassane Dramane Ouattara from Côte d’Ivoire, Thomas Yayi Boni from Benin, Blaise Compaoré from Burkina Faso, Denis Sassou N’Guesso from Congo, Idriss Deby Itno from Chad, Ali Bongo Ondimba from Gabon, Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo from Guinea Bissau, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo from Equatorial Guinea, Mahamadou Issoufou from Niger, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan from Nigeria, Manuel Pinto Da Costa from São Tomé and Principe, and Faure Gnassingbe from Togo, all made their presence felt in Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon.

Thirteen (13) other AU Member States responded present at this summit. Among these countries were Angola, Burundi, Cape-Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Gambia (represented by their Vice President), Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone (most of them were represented at Ministerial level).
Representatives from the ECOWAS, ECCAS and CGG were also present at this Summit. The United Nations sent representatives while observers flew in from Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

In addition, the European Union (EU), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), and the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) were represented at this Summit. 400 Press Accreditations where issued.

As a major source of oil, cocoa, metals and various other natural resources for world markets, the Gulf of Guinea is increasingly seen as a key strategic point and an incommensurable source of wealth for regional actors and Africa in general. Mutualizing efforts and integrating them to ensure situational maritime domain awareness in this region remains therefore an indispensable milestone towards ensuring sustainable Africa’s economic growth.

With Africa having become a major hub for global crude oil theft, money laundering, illegal arms and drug smuggling, human trafficking, human smuggling, environmental crimes, piracy and armed robbery at Sea, dumping of toxic waste, and maritime terrorism, African leaders and decision-makers have realized that it is time to step up the continent’s strategic approach towards maritime safety and security as the future of Africa lies in her Blue Economy, a new frontline of Africa’s renaissance.

In his opening speech, President Paul BIYA of Cameroon stressed that Maritime insecurity “poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of African States (as) it undermines the people’s development and wellbeing.”

In addition, during the Closing of the Summit on June 25, 2013, he emphasized: “I would also like to commend the African Union’s Initiative to draw up the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy).”

Representing the Chairperson of the African Union Commission at this Summit, Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping, Commissioner for Economic Affairs of the African Union Commission, stressed on the complexity and interconnectivity of Maritime safety and security issues, a situation that requires the design of “smart comprehensive and integrated strategies, like the 2050 AIM Strategy.”

Echoing to the message of H. E. Mr. Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) who, during the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) last June 4th, 2013, praised the AU’s 2050 AIM Strategy, appealing on African states to translate it into reality as Africa’s development depends on the promotion of her Maritime industry, Blue Economic and Blue Growth, Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping pointed out that the development of African Maritime Domain is now considered as a high priority in Africa’s agenda, especially within the framework of the AU’s 2050 AIM Strategy.

Having decided on the creation of an Inter-regional Coordination Centre on Maritime Safety and Security for Central and West Africa headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 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 domain, in their final Declaration, the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, ECCAS and the GGC vividly expressed their unconditional support to the AU’s 2050 AIM Strategy (Article 2.2 of the Yaoundé Declaration of June 25, 2013). They went a step further exhorting each regional organization and the Commission of the Gulf of Guinea to “elaborate and adopt a regional strategy in line with the 2050 AIM Strategy.” (Article 2.4.a. of the Yaoundé Declaration).

An African vision integrating all aspects related to the governance of African Maritime Domain with the ultimate goal of promoting the well-being of African populations, the 2050 AIM Strategy and its Plan of Action were adopted in December 2012 by African Ministers in charge of Maritime-related Affairs, a defining step towards a safe, secured and stable African Maritime Domain that guarantees a sustainable Blue Economy and Blue Growth for African development.

For further details on the adopted documents and speeches during the Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea, please visit www.au.int/maritime.