TECHNOLOGY AND MARITIME SECURITY OF AFRICAN COASTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12700/jceeas.2025.5.1.318Keywords:
Africa, Coastal states, Piracy, Gulf of Guinea, Technology, Maritime, Sea, Yaoundé Code of Conduct, Maritime Safety, SecurityAbstract
ABSTRACT
This paper seeks to discuss the use of new-age technology for maritime safety and security in the African waters for ensuring economical and effective exploration of sea resources. The paper deals with two main variables - technology and maritime security in African waters. Technology enhances surveillance, communication, information sharing, access control etc. which also decreases marine insecurities. Terrorist activities start on the terrestrial land but eventually make their way to the waters, making the sea a hotspot for illegal activities. This paper seeks to investigate how piracy, illicit oil bunkering, unreported and unregulated fishing, attacks on unmanned submersibles, etc. in the coastal zone of the African continent are major maritime menaces. This impedes the optimum exploration of the sea resources. Innovations in Africa’s maritime security have led to greater regional coordination and cooperation. Moreover, the 5+5 dialogue between North Africa and Southern Europe, the Yaoundé Code of Conduct (2013) and the Djibouti Code (2009) are some of the main pillars to this issue. The paper undertakes qualitative and quantitative methodologies to study the problem of terrorism with a special focus on the Gulf of Guinea. The paper contends that though the implementation of science and technology requires massive investment, it is the most favorable path to address security threats at sea and boost sea exploration efforts. Since the technology for effective implementation of maritime security and optimum utilization of sea resources are at a nascent stage of development, much would depend on international cooperation and the development of an international regime.
References
African Union. (2016). AFRICAN CHARTER on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa. Extraordinary Session of the Assembly. https://au.int/sites/default/files/treaties/37286-treaty-african_charter_on_maritime_security.pdf
African Union. (n.d.). AFRICA’S INTEGRATED MARITIME STRATEGY (2050 AIM STRATEGY). https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/33832-wd-african_union_3-1.pdf
Akwara, U. (2018). Pirate Attack on the Gulf of Guinea. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Ali, K. D. (2015). Publications on ocean development : maritime security cooperation in the gulf of guinea, volume 79. Leiden Brill.
Balci, M., & Pegg, R. (2006). Towards Global Maritime Domain Awareness-" Recent Developments and Challenges". 2006 9th international conference on information fusion (pp. 1-5). IEEE,
Besley, T., Fetzer, T., & Mueller, H. (2015). The Welfare Cost of Lawlessness: Evidence from Somali Piracy. Journal of the European Economic Association, 13(2).
Blédé, B., & Walker, T. (2016). Fulfilling the Promise of the Lomé Maritime Summit. Institute for Security Studies. Retrieved March 04, 2025 from https://issafrica.org/iss-today/fulfilling-the-promise-of-the-lome-maritimesummit.
Côrte-Real, J. (2022). Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, threats, and challenges. Negócios Estrangeiros, 22, 61-72.
Council of European Union. (2024). Maritime Security: EU to become an Observer of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment.
Denton, G. L., & and Harris, J. R. (2022). Maritime Piracy, Military Capacity, and Institutions in the Gulf of Guinea. Terrorism and Political Violence, 34(1), 1-27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2019.1659783
The Djibouti Code of Conduct. (n.d.-a). Retrieved February 12, 2025 from https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Security/Pages/Content-and-Evolution-of-the-Djibouti-Code-of-Conduct.aspx
The Djibouti Code of Conduct. (n.d.-b). Retrieved March 02, 2025 from https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Security/Pages/Content-and-Evolution-of-the-Djibouti-Code-of-Conduct.aspx#:~:text=The%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20concerning,Maldives%2C%20Seychelles%2C%20Somalia%2C%20the
Evans, M. D., & Galani, S. (2020). Maritime security and the law of the sea : help or hindrance? Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Friedrich Naumann Foundation. (2024). Security: The 5+5 Initiative, a bridge between the two shores of the Mediterranean. Retrieved Oktober 21, 2024 from https://www.freiheit.org/spain-italy-portugal-and-mediterranean-dialogue/55-initiative-bridge-between-two-shores
Gachie, I. (March 8, 2023). An evaluation of the Yaoundé Architecture. GoGMI. Yaris.
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). (September 19, 2024). https://iccwbo.org/
International Crisis Group. (2012). INTRODUCTION In THE GULF OF GUINEA: THE NEW DANGER ZONE. Retrieved March 04, 2024 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep32205.4
International Organization for Migration. (2021). 5+5 Dialogue on Migration in the Western Mediterranean. Retrieved Oktober 21, 2024 from https://www.iom.int/55-dialogue-migration-western-mediterranean
The issues. (n.d.). Interpol. Retrieved February 23, 2025 from https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Maritime-crime/The-issues
Khan, A. (2023). Africa's Maritime Security: From Strategy to Solutions. Retrieved March 03, 2024 from https://maritimeindia.org/africas-maritime-security-from-strategy-to-solutions/
Maritime trade and Africa. (2018). UN Trade and Development. Retrieved March 04, 2024 from https://unctad.org/press-material/maritime-trade-and-africa
Moghalu, K. C. (2017). Why has Africa fallen behind the rest of the world’s economies? https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/04/africa-fallen-behind-economies-science-technology
Narcotics, U. S. B. f. I., Affairs, L. E., Studies, N. D. U. A. C. f. S., Security, U. S. D. o. H., Guard, U. S. C., Defense, U. S. D. o., & Command, U. S. A. (2019). Africa Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Primer, 2019. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. https://books.google.hu/books?id=d_yzzQEACAAJ
Nyadera, I. N. n. d. T. S. C. R. S. N. (n.d.). The Somalia Conflict Revisited. Springer Nature.
Okafor-Yarwood, I., Eastwood, O., Chikowore, N., & de Oliveira Paes, L. (2024). Technology and maritime security in Africa: Opportunities and challenges in Gulf of Guinea. Marine Policy, 160, 105976. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105976
Pichon, E. (2019). Piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Africa: EU and Global Impact : In-depth Analysis.
Ralby, I., Soud, D., & Ralby, L. (2019a). The Gulf of Guinea is Ready for Maritime Technology. CIMSEC. Retrieved March 03, 2025 from https://cimsec.org/the-gulf-of-guinea-is-ready-for-maritime-technology/
Ralby, I., Soud, D., & Ralby, R. (2019b). The Gulf of Guinea is Ready for Maritime Technology. Center for International Maritime Security. Retrieved March 03, 2024 from https://cimsec.org/the-gulf-of-guinea-is-ready-for-maritime-technology
Vogel, A. (2022). Investing in science and technology to meet Africa’s maritime security challenges.
Vreÿ, F., & Blaine, M. (2024a). Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean attacks expose Africa’s maritime vulnerability – Africa Center. Africa Center. Retrieved February 12, 2025 from https://africacenter.org/spotlight/red-sea-indian-ocean-attacks-africa-maritime-vulnerability/#:~:text=Attacks%20on%20shipping%20in%20the,vessels%20hijacked%20by%20Somali%20pirates
Vreÿ, F., & Blaine, M. (2024b). Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean attacks expose Africa’s maritime vulnerability – Africa Center. Africa Center. Retrieved April 10, 2024 from https://africacenter.org/spotlight/red-sea-indian-ocean-attacks-africa-maritime-vulnerability/#:~:text=Attacks%20on%20shipping%20in%20the,vessels%20hijacked%20by%20Somali%20pirates
Wad, A. (1984). Science, Technology and Industrialisation in Africa. Third World Quarterly, 6(2), 327-350.
Weldemichael, A. T. (2019). Piracy in Somalia : violence and development in the Horn of Africa. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108683425
Williams, M. (2024). Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security: Lessons, Latency, and Law Enforcement. War on the Rocks. Retrieved February 12, 2025 from https://warontherocks.com/2024/05/gulf-of-guinea-maritime-security-lessons-latency-and-law-enforcement/
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Shreya Goyal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
