Gulf of Guinea Security Summit: No Inter-Regional Force Created to Check Security Lapses

Group Picture of Head of States and Wives

 The 13 head of states, one Vice President who attended the Gulf of Guinea have not put in place a binding accord to fight piracy and other crimes in the Gulf of Guinea after spending two days in Yaounde-Cameroon.

Expectations were high at that the Yaounde declaration will set the pace for the setting up of a joint-force to ensure security in the Gulf of Guinea. Yet, contrary to public expectations, the leaders left Yaounde after haven only agreed to create an inter-regional center to coordinate the fight against rising maritime crime, which would be hosted by Cameroon in Yaounde.

 Insecurity has been on the rise since last year with the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reporting attacks on nearly 1000 sailors. More so, the Gulf of Guinea also serves as medium for all types of crimes. The most common include fuel Bunkering, kidnapping, human and drug trafficking. With the second highest oil reserve in the world, the Gulf of Guinea it should be recalled also harbours the largest biodiversity hot spot in the world after the Amazon.

“Maritime piracy poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of our States,” President Paul Biya said at the start of the Summit. “It undermines the people’s development and   well-being",

 On the other hand, Chadian president Idriss Deby, the chairman of the Economic Commission of Central African States (Eccas) said there was “no price too big for security”.

Eventhough the Yaounde Summit ended with no binding instrument, the participants however agreed to raised funds to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

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