Extraordinary Summit of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Event

Oct 11, 2016 - 09:15 - Oct 15, 2016 - 17:15

Lomé, Togo, 15 October 2016: African Heads of State and Government have adopted and signed the African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development on Saturday, 15 October 2016 at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government. The adoption of the Charter followed recommendations for its adoption made by the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) and the Executive Council Sessions, which were held from 11-14 October 2016.

The African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development aims to solidify Africa’s commitment to an efficient and effective management of its oceans, seas and waterways so as to ensure sustainable, equitable and beneficial exploration of these critical resources.

The Assembly urged Member States to ratify the Charter in accordance with their relevant national procedures, and begin its implementation.

In his remarks, H.E. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad and Chairperson of the Union, highlighted that the African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development aligns itself with the Continent’s desire to adopt a concrete plan of action, that when implemented, would operationalize prior engagements and strategies to which Member States have subscribed. It is in its conception a cooperative instrument that will integrate into and complement existing frameworks. (The full speech of the President is available on www.au.int).

Host President, H.E. Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, underscored the fact that the Charter is a legally binding instrument that will facilitate the consolidation of efforts in combating maritime security threats and promote trade, the sustainable exploitation of our marine resources as well as to provide an opportunity for wealth and job creation. (The full speech of the President is available on www.au.int).

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, assured Member States that the Commission would organize the relevant consultations to complete the developmental aspects of the blue economy. She said these issues would also incorporate observations and proposals from continental associations of shipping owners, women in maritime, administrators and port operators.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma urged the leaders to find ways to strengthen the participation of women and young people in the industry, given “trillions worth of dollars in goods and services and millions of jobs in the sector.

The Chairperson took the opportunity to extend congratulatory messages from the Women In Maritime Africa (WIMA) to the President of Guinea who has recently appointed a woman Director General and Deputy Director General to run the port of Guinea Conakry, and expressed her wish that many more countries could do the same. Concluding her inputs she said there will be processes that would further elaborate on the developmental aspects of the Charter. (The full speech of the President is available on www.au.int).

MTs/JEE

Media contact

Molalet Tsedeke; Media Center Coordinator/ Directorate of Information and Communication/ AU Commission/ Tel: +228-93521554 E: mail: molalett@africa-union.org

For further information contact

Directorate of Information and Communication /African Union Commission/ E- mail: DIC@africa-union.org /Web site: www.au.int / Addis Ababa / Ethiopia

Media Advisory

Media Advisory - PRC (EN)

Agenda

Draft Agenda - PRC (EN)

Draft Agenda - Executive Council (EN)

Draft Agenda - Assembly (EN)

Event Programme

Program - PRC (EN)

Draft Program of Events (EN)

Press Release References

AU Commission Chairperson expected in Lomé, Togo, for an AU Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security

AU Extraordinary Summit of the PRC on Maritime Security, Safety and Development opens in Lomé, Togo

AU Commission Chairperson urges Member States to train, create jobs and wealth in the maritime industry

African Leaders adopt Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Speech References

Statement by H.E. Prof Robert Dussey, Foreign Affairs Minister of Togo to the PRC of the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Opening Statement by H.E. Cherif Mahamat Zene, Ambassador of Chad and Chair of the PRC at the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Speech of H.E. Prof Robert Dussey, Foreign Minister of Chad to the Executive Council of the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Statement by H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to the Executive Council of the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Opening Statement by H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, Foreign Affairs Minister of Chad and Chair of the Executive Council to the Executive Council of the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Statement by H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at the Women in Maritime Africa and the African Shipowners Association side event of the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Statement by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AUC Chairperson to the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Statement by H.E. Idriss Deby, Au Chairperson and President of Chad to the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Statement by H.E. Faure Gnassingbe, President of Togo to the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Maritime Security, Safety and Development

Other References

Women in Maritime Africa and the African Shipowners Association