Addis Ababa, 22 July 2021: H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, on behalf of Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with H.E. Ambassador Florentina Adenike Ukonga, Executive Secretary, Gulf of Guinea Commission. The MoU aims to strengthen collaboration between the African Union and the Gulf of Guinea Commission on issues of maritime security and safety, including the operationalization of the integrated strategy for the Seas and Oceans Horizon 2050 (AIM Strategy 2050) and the strategy of the Blue Economy of the African Union.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, H.E. Commissioner Adeoye thanked H.E. Amb. Ukonga and through her the Gulf of Guinea Commission for the proactive engagement to solidify the AU – Gulf of Guinea partnership and ensure that both organisations continue to work together and build synergies for joint action, taking into consideration the principles of subsidiarity and comparative advantage. In his words, “This agreement is indeed long overdue. It will strengthen the coordinated efforts of our Member States to address critical issues on Africa’s blue economy and maritime security across Central and West Africa, while safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of the African people, especially those in the coastal regions.”

On her part, Ambassador Ukonga welcomed the new partnership and underlined the readiness of the Gulf of Guinea Commission to work very closely with the African Union and to scale up continental interventions to mitigate piracy and other forms of criminality and economic exploitation on the high seas of Africa. “This is indeed a great day for Africa as our Member States pay closer attention to maritime governance with the aim to protect our seas and our people who must primarily benefit from Africa’s maritime resources.”

The signing ceremony took place at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Peace Building at the AU Headquarters and reaffirms the new dynamic within the AU to strengthen intra-African collaboration, towards effective implementation of policies affecting Africa’s maritime spaces.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Paschal Chem-Langhee

Communication Officer

Office of the Commissioner

Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department

African Union Commission

Mobile: +251-929 4877 49

Email: Chem-LangheeP@africa-union.org

 

African Union (AU)

Political affairs, Peace and Security Department

Conflict Management Division

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