This year marks the end of the Decade of African Seas and Oceans (2015-2025) – an African Union (AU) initiative to promote the sustainable use and governance of Africa’s marine and coastal resources. Progress during this decade has exposed significant shortcomings at the AU level in tackling maritime priorities, with widespread gaps in implementation, coordination and political commitment. The article outlines five urgent steps to correct course, including revising Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS 2050), convening Amani Africa III, ratifying the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter, increasing the frequency of AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) meetings on maritime security, and leveraging the influence of the three African UN Security Council members (A3).
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Instead, the past decade has exposed significant shortcomings at the AU level in tackling maritime priorities, with widespread gaps in implementation, coordination and political commitment. Progress must be urgently assessed and objectives refined. Africa has many maritime initiatives such as the Africa Blue Economy Strategy, Yaoundé Inter Regional Coordination Centre and Djibouti Code of Conduct. Nevertheless, AIMS 2050 remains essential, providing a continental cross-cutting framework for better maritime governance. But to secure concrete support from member states, the strategy must be more actionable.Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians.
There are also massive implications for maritime security. For instance, the necessary surge in maritime traffic to facilitate economic growth – including larger cargo volumes and new shipping routes – will increase the need for surveillance and law enforcement in African waters. This is because the growth in shipping will inevitably attract illegal activities like smuggling, human trafficking and piracy.
Showcasing innovative solutions and partnerships can attract much-needed resources for African maritime initiatives – such as increasing public interest in healthier oceans and private investment in sustainable blue economic sectors.
AFRICA AFRICAN UNION MARITIME SECURITY AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE INTEGRATED MARITIME STRATEGY
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