Twiga highlights critical issue of maritime security at AAD 2024 conference

Maritime security is a critical issue facing many African countries and it is therefore important that African countries develop their own maritime capabilities. Twiga Services & Logistics, which manufactures a range of robust military patrol boats, will be discussing the importance of African solutions to African problems at the upcoming Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2024 Conference this week.

Damian de Lange, CEO of Twiga, will participate in a panel discussion on the third day of the conference, on 20 September at Waterkloof Air Force Base, on the need for regional maritime security and why regional cooperation initiatives are becoming increasingly important.

He is joined by James Cottrell, Head of Naval Systems at Milkor UAE; Carina Bruwer, Senior Researcher on Transnational Organized Crime in Southern Africa at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS); and Timothy Walker, Maritime Project Leader and Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).

De Lange stressed the importance of maritime security, saying that whether it is Africa as a region (from the perspective of the United Nations) or the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as a region (from the perspective of the Regional Economic Communities of the African Union), maritime security – including Africa’s rivers and lakes – is a critical issue facing many African countries.

“The illegal movement of goods, which undermines economic development, human trafficking, which destroys lives and humanity, and the direct confrontations over sovereignty are some real examples of the security challenges that many African countries face on their coasts, rivers and lakes. The issue of maritime security is one that is often lost in the broader scope of challenges. However, it is an ongoing issue that challenges the sovereignty, development and human rights of many African countries. And addressing these security threats takes time and money. Since 2012, Twiga has been working with African clients to provide water platform solutions that can contribute to the ability to address these security threats,” he said.

Twiga offers a range of rugged military patrol boats that have been delivered to African customers. De Lange noted that with the escalation of conflict on the African continent, where borders are often rivers or lakes, there is an increased demand for greater capability and firepower to use the water as a battlefield rather than a logistical route. The company has responded with larger and more powerful boats, such as the recent 920 Gun Boat, which is on display at AAD.

De Lange believes it is crucial that African countries develop their own African indigenous maritime capabilities to repair and build. “The flip side is what we have seen in colonial and post-colonial history, namely that the necessary items have to be imported at great cost and in some cases increase dependency on the former colonial power,” he said.

For South Africa in particular, De Lange believes policymakers need to put their ideas into practice: “South Africa must invest and build its own capabilities to meet the growing need to secure our seas and our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and to support multinational efforts to curb illegal activities on the high seas.”

The third day of the AAD conference will also feature a keynote speech by the Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, who will discuss the South African Navy’s plan to get its ships back to sea and add new ships to the fleet.

Other topics covered include the impact of Houthi attacks on international shipping and the effects of Somali piracy on regional and global maritime security; supporting the South African Navy with a support ship/drone carrier; strengthening maritime security in Mozambique; examining the impact of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) on maritime security in Africa; and the use of the Oceans and Coastal Information System (OCIMS) to monitor South Africa’s oceans.

For more information about the AAD 2024 Conference and to register for the event, please visit the AAD 2024 Conference website.