ECOWAS ensures Gulf is a ‘safe domain’ with maritime exercise

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The Gulf of Guinea was once one of the world’s hotspots for piracy and human trafficking, but it still poses a security risk to the Economic Community of West African States.

The West African regional bloc, also known as ECOWAS, includes 12 coastal countries among its 15 members. It recently conducted Operation Safe Domain III. The third iteration of the ECOWAS maritime security training event was launched on August 5 from Cotonou, Benin and ended on August 9.

The exercise was led by the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) for Zone E, which comprises Benin, Nigeria and Togo, and included maritime and aerial surveillance, intervention training of operational units, surveys and an exchange of knowledge and research.

MMCC Zone E Director and Nigerian Navy Cmdr. Aniedi Aniedu Ibok kicked off the event, which is part of the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy, adopted in 2014 to address transnational maritime security challenges and their impact on economic development in the region.

“Faced with the threats of piracy, armed robbery at sea and illegal maritime activities, ECOWAS has decided to mobilize its resources and coordinate its efforts to secure its maritime space,” Ibok said in his opening remarks. “These threats have significant implications for the economic stability and development of our blue economy. They undermine the potential for economic growth and the livelihoods of our local communities.

“Our response through Safe Domain III reflects our unwavering commitment to neutralize these threats and create a safe maritime environment conducive to trade and commerce.”

Ibok also set the agenda and objectives for the exercise and how it fit into the broader Zone E MMCC plan.

“The objectives of the exercise are threefold: combating maritime crimes through equipment, training and intelligence sharing; promoting information exchange and cooperation; and creating a secure environment for maritime trade, thereby stimulating trade and economic growth,” he said. “The Centre’s mission is to strengthen activities aimed at cooperation, coordination, pooling and interoperability of resources among Zone E member states.”

Nigerian Navy Captain Idongesit Udoessien was at the helm of one of four ships participating in the exercise. Together with helicopters providing air support, the ships patrolled, monitored and controlled a total area of ​​105,746 square nautical miles.

“We have indeed shown the world that we can pool our efforts at the sub-regional level to ensure maritime safety and security, with a view to ensuring a thriving blue economy of Zone E countries,” he said, according to Nigerian news website This Day Live.

Ibok noted a significant drop in maritime crime, from 49 reported cases of piracy in 2018 to just two in 2023. He attributed this success to the coordinated efforts of ECOWAS, member states and international partners.

The European Union has provided support through the Gulf of Guinea Interregional Network project, together with other international partners including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United States, Denmark and Germany.

Nigerian Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan was pleased to see that this year’s exercise builds on the successes of Operations Safe Domain I and II, saying security in and around the Gulf of Guinea has improved thanks to the efforts of ECOWAS.

“While we may not yet be where we want to be in terms of maritime safety and security, we are past the darkest days, when maritime criminals operated with impunity in the Gulf of Guinea,” he said, according to This Day Live.

ECOWAS also announced that Operation Safe Domain IV is scheduled for March 2025.

“The continued cooperation of our member states is essential to protect our shared maritime heritage and ensure the free flow of global trade,” Ibok said. “Our joint efforts today pave the way for a safer, more secure maritime future in Area E.”

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