ISS Live: Future-proofing Africa against maritime security challenges

To celebrate Africa's Day of the Seas and Oceans, this co-hosted event with the African Union raised awareness of key AU maritime strategies.

Published on 27 July 2021 in Media / Videos

To mark Africa’s Day of the Seas and Oceans and to further raise awareness of the African Union's 2050 Maritime Strategy, the AU, in partnership with the ISS, convened a virtual celebration on 27 July 2021.

The AU has facilitated the adoption of several pan-African initiatives and instruments that provide a framework for establishing collective security and governance mechanisms and institutions. This enables African member states to both address common security challenges and threats and pursue opportunities and benefits. At the heart of these instruments is the recognition that the harm caused by maritime crimes, as well as the grievances that they could feed if left unaddressed will, in time, undermine societies and stability. Furthermore, each provides a platform for guiding discussions and improving knowledge, policy dialogue, leadership, partnerships and cooperation at all levels in facilitating a coherent, coordinated and efficient implementation. The webinar consisted of a number of keynote addresses, followed by a concise moderated discussion and Q&A.

Participants considered the following guiding questions:

  • Why should African countries be interested in maritime security?
  • What is the maritime security architecture promoted by the AU?
  • What is the geopolitical environment?
  • What is the progress and what are the conditions for success?
  • Chair: Ambassador Dr Namira Negm, Legal Counsel of the African Union

Keynote speakers:

  • Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security
  • Dr Fonteh Akum, Executive Director, Institute for Security Studies
  • Mr Laré Penn, Chief of Staff, High Council for the Sea for Togo, on behalf of HE Stanislas Baba, Minister, Adviser on the Sea to the President of Togo, AU Champion on Maritime Affairs 

Expert summarisers:

  • Timothy Walker, Institute for Security Studies
  • Dr Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood, University of St. Andrews
  • Roland Adjovi, International Law Consultant for the UNODC
  • Dr Guy-Fleury Ntwari, Office of the AU Legal Counsel
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Development partners
The ISS is grateful for support from the members of the ISS Partnership Forum: the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the European Union, the Open Society Foundations and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
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Africa African Union African Union & Peace and Security Council Maritime security