By
Rebecca Gibson |
A Code of Conduct concerning the prevention of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa was adopted by 22 heads of State in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 25 June.
Initially endorsed at ministerial level in March 2013, the code has been developed with the aid of the IMO by the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Community of Central African States and the Gulf of Guinea Commission.
Established in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions 2018 (2011) and 2039 (2012), it will enable participating countries to develop a comprehensive and coordinated regional strategy to counter marine piracy.
The code incorporates many elements of the Djibouti Code of Conduct – which has been signed by 20 states in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden – and the Memorandum of Understanding on the integrated coastguard function network in west and central Africa, which was developed in 2008.
Participating countries will share and report information, interdict ships suspected of engaging in illegal activities at sea and ensure criminals are prosecuted. They will also ensure victims of crime – including crew, passengers and other seafarers – receive appropriate care, treatment, and repatriation.
IMO secretary-general Koji Sekimizu welcomed the introduction of the code, saying: “I am fully committed to assisting western and central African countries to establishing a workable, regional mechanism of co-operation for enhanced maritime security. Maritime development is an essential component of African development and maritime zone security is fundamentally important.”
Sekimizu also called on countries to contribute to a new IMO trust fund to implement a programme for the safe, secure and sustainable development of the African maritime sector.
The countries bound by the new code include Angola; Benin; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Chad; the Congo; Cote d’Ivoire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Equatorial Guinea; Liberia; Mali; Niger; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Sao Tome; and Principe and Togo.