Security Council seeks to revive anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Guinea

Photo: Eunavfor, Des pirates appréhendés dans le golfe de Guinée.

Ten years after the adoption of its last resolution on acts of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea, the Security Council, at the initiative of Ghana and Norway, wished on Tuesday to relaunch regional and national efforts to combat this scourge.

In resolution 2634 (2022), adopted unanimously by its 15 members, the Council strongly condemned acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, including assassinations, kidnappings and hostage-taking committed in the Gulf of Guinea.

While the Security Council stresses that the primary responsibility for combating piracy and armed robbery at sea rests with the States of the Gulf of Guinea, it calls upon all States in the region to criminalize such acts under their domestic law and to investigate, prosecute and extradite the perpetrators.

It also calls for the prosecution of “those who intentionally encourage, finance or facilitate such acts, including the masterminds of criminal piracy networks“.

In addition, Member States in the region are urged to take urgent action at the national and regional levels and with the support of the international community to implement national maritime security strategies, including a harmonized legal framework to prevent and suppress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

Enhancing cooperation

The Security Council also urges regional organizations and the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Domain Information Exchange mechanism to strengthen cooperation on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea and to continue the implementation of the Yaoundé Mechanism.

It further urges Member States and relevant international organizations to assist States in the region, as well as regional and subregional organizations, to ensure that the necessary measures are taken to prevent the proceeds of piracy and armed robbery at sea from contributing to the financing of terrorism in West Africa, Central Africa and the Sahel.

Prior to the vote, Ghana introduced the text, noting that maritime insecurity undermines the development of coastal economies in the region, which is also plagued by the associated rise in terrorism and coups.

The representative also noted that the resolution was the result of a negotiation process that began in January, during which, he said, the concerns of all delegations were taken into account. Compromises were made in order to maintain the wording and reach consensus, he said, before stressing that the provisions of the text “only apply to the Gulf of Guinea“.

Source: UN