Regional Maritime Cooperation: Equatorial Guinea Strengthens Engagement with MOWCA During Strategic Visit by the Secretary General
Regional maritime cooperation in West and Central Africa has gained new momentum following a high-level strategic visit by the Secretary General of the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu, to the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The meeting marks a further step toward stronger maritime governance, enhanced Gulf of Guinea security, and sustainable blue economy development.
A Strategic Visit to Advance the Regional Maritime Agenda
Held at the Ministry of Transport in Malabo, the working session aimed to reinforce Equatorial Guinea’s active participation in MOWCA programmes and decision-making processes. The visit forms part of MOWCA’s broader engagement with Member States to support institutional reforms and accelerate implementation of its regional maritime strategy.
Discussions focused on aligning national maritime and transport priorities with regional and continental frameworks, particularly in the areas of maritime safety, port development, transport connectivity, and trade facilitation.
Maritime Safety and Port Security in Focus
Maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea featured prominently in the talks. Both parties stressed the need to strengthen coordination on maritime domain awareness, port State and flag State control implementation, and joint regional security initiatives.
Particular emphasis was placed on reinforcing cooperation under the Yaoundé Architecture, which remains the core regional framework for combating piracy, armed robbery at sea, and other illicit maritime activities across West and Central Africa.
Capacity Building and Maritime Governance Support
Institutional and human capacity development was identified as a key pillar of cooperation between MOWCA and Equatorial Guinea. Priority areas discussed included:
- training and skills development for maritime professionals,
- strengthening maritime administrations,
- upgrading regulatory and policy frameworks,
- improving port and maritime governance systems.
These measures are designed to help national maritime institutions meet international standards and improve operational performance across the maritime and port sectors.
Regional Integration and Transport Connectivity
The meeting also highlighted Equatorial Guinea’s role in advancing regional maritime and transport integration. Exchanges underlined the importance of harmonised maritime policies, improved port and logistics connectivity, and more efficient trade corridors to support regional economic growth.
Both sides emphasized the need for stronger and more coordinated participation of African States within the International Maritime Organization (IMO), supporting Africa’s ambition to project a more unified and influential maritime voice at the global level.
Commitments Reaffirmed and Cooperation Framework Strengthened
At the conclusion of the meeting, several key outcomes were recorded:
- reaffirmation of Equatorial Guinea’s commitment to MOWCA’s objectives and programmes,
- agreement to enhance technical cooperation between MOWCA and the Ministry of Transport,
- identification of priority follow-up areas, including capacity development and policy alignment,
- strengthened political dialogue in support of regional maritime stability and development.
Next Steps: From Dialogue to Operational Action
Both parties agreed to maintain sustained high-level engagement and to translate the discussions into concrete cooperation activities aligned with national priorities and MOWCA’s strategic plan. The shared objective is to accelerate practical actions in maritime safety, port security, and sustainable maritime transport across the sub-region.
For port, shipping, and logistics stakeholders in West and Central Africa, the visit signals continued institutional momentum toward safer seas, stronger maritime governance, and a more competitive regional blue economy.
