Harnessing Africa’s blue potential: accelerating action for ocean health and resilience
To mark Africa Day of Seas and Oceans, this seminar examines the continent’s progress and priorities for the next decade.
Date: 2025-07-25
Time: 10:00 to 11:00
Venue: Online via Zoom
Since the African Union (AU) launched its ‘Decade of African Seas and Oceans’, what progress has the continent made? The initiative started in 2015 on 25 July – Africa Day of Seas and Oceans. It focused on combating maritime security threats, protecting and restoring marine ecosystems, and strengthening institutional capacity for maritime governance.
To mark this year’s Africa Day of Seas and Oceans, this high-level event will assess the continent’s achievements, challenges and priorities for the next ten years. Join us to celebrate and recommit to safeguarding Africa’s unique marine and freshwater heritage.
This event is co-hosted by the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
Moderator: Georges H Mba Asseko, Head, ARBE
Opening statement: HE Moses Vilakati, ARBE Commissioner, AU Commission
Panelists:
- Representative, United Nations Development Programme
- Representative, United Nations Environment Programme
- Representative, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
- Representative, Women in Maritime Africa
- Timothy Walker, Senior Researcher, Maritime, ISS
