UNITED NATIONS, June 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — Instances of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea continued to steadily decline, thanks to efforts by regional countries and international partners, a UN official said on Wednesday.
Regular naval patrols by Gulf of Guinea coastal states, together with the systematic deployment of naval assets by international partners, have continued to serve as an effective deterrent against the actions of criminal groups, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, the UN assistant secretary-general for Africa, told a Security Council briefing.
Pobee noted that the downward trend, which began in April 2021, has continued since she last briefed the Security Council in November 2022.
Another key factor that has contributed to the positive trend is the ongoing operationalization of the Yaounde Architecture, an interregional maritime security mechanism that was established following the signing of the Yaounde Code of Conduct in 2013, she said.
While reflecting on the achievements and progress, Pobee also called for increased support to address the challenges and gaps holding back the full operationalization of the Yaounde Architecture.
She pointed to insufficient staffing across various layers of the architecture, a lack of appropriate equipment and logistical support across the structures, and a lack of predictable and sustainable financing.
Rapidly addressing these challenges “is critical to maintaining current gains as piracy incidents continue to threaten the safety of maritime traffic in the region,” Pobee said. — NNN-XINHUA