The primary objective of this meeting is to assess the performance and efficiency of ECOWAS maritime centres, which will provide valuable information to improve maritime operations and effectively combat illegal maritime activities in the ECOWAS area. Among the participants of this important meeting are representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Maritime Centres, the Chiefs of Staff of the Navy of the Member States and their respective Heads of Operations.

In his opening speech, the Chief of Staff of the Togolese National Navy, Frigate Captain Atatoum Babaté, confessed that by organizing this meeting in Lomé, ECOWAS shows its commitment to effective maritime governance and its will to ensure peace, security and prosperity In West African sub region. He also stressed that Member States have strengthened their individual and collective efforts to address threats related to maritime security, while emphasizing the importance of staying united in the fight against maritime insecurity.

In his opening speech, the ECOWAS Permanent Representative in Togo, His Excellency Barros Bacar BANJAI, on behalf of Ambassador Dr Abdel-Fatau Musa, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, congratulated Member States for their contributions to equipping maritime security centres. He stressed that significant progress has been made in reducing maritime attacks, with attacks down from 68 in 2018 to 50 in 2019, and a further decrease to 18 in 2021 and 15 in 2022. He attributed this positive trend to cooperation and coordination between Member States and the international community.

The Minister of Maritime Economy, Fisheries and Coastal Protection, Kokou Edem TENGUE, has stressed the importance of maritime security due to the large flow of goods and equipment passing by the sea. If this flow contributes to economic development, it also poses risks of illegal activities related to sea insecurity. He assured that Togo, as a HOST country, remains committed to participating in the ECOWAS maritime strategy and the fight against maritime piracy and illegal activities, through the creation of multinational maritime centres.

The Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres (MMCC) play a crucial role in ECOWAS maritime security architecture. These centres, as well as the Regional Centre for Maritime Security in West Africa (CRESMAO) in Cote d’Ivoire, have greatly enhanced maritime security in the region and led to a reduction in incidents of piracy and theft at sea.

Parallel to the meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Navy, the seventh (7th) International Symposium on the Gulf of Guinea is scheduled to take place in Lomé, Togo on October 18 and 19, 2023. These simultaneous meetings provide a framework to discuss broader issues related to the Gulf of Guinea, including its challenges and potential solutions.

The ultimate objective of the meeting of the Subcommittee of the Chiefs of Staff of the Navy of ECOWAS Member States is to hold a fruitful and productive session that will result in the preparation of a comprehensive report which will be submitted later to the ECOWAS Steering Team.