African navies commit to establishing a combined EEZ

Sea Power for Africa Symposium aims to advance continent’s maritime strategy

The symposium also called for the establishment of a Maritime Sub-Committee within the African Union to oversee the implementation of key maritime security initiatives. Additionally, a team will be established to formulate an implementation plan for the AIMS 2050, which will be presented to the Chiefs and Heads of African Navies (CHANS). 

With the objective of accelerating the implementation of the African Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050 navies also agreed  to explore practical ways to plan and execute joint maritime patrols while reinforcing information sharing among Maritime Domain Awareness Centres (MDACs).

Naval chiefs, defence specialists, and policymakers from all over Africa and the world attended the 5th Sea Power for Africa Symposium (SPAS) 2024 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) held under the theme: “Good Order at Sea in the African Maritime Domain”. 

The conference, which was organized by the South African Navy, brought together delegates from landlocked and coastal African countries to discuss the future of maritime security on the continent as a whole. The occasion brought to light the common marine issues that African countries face, such as piracy, illicit fishing, smuggling, and transnational organised crime. 

Naval leaders emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation and collaboration among African navies, including capacity building, training, maintenance, and operations. Delegates recognised the need to break down barriers to inter-naval cooperation, share maritime domain awareness information in real time, and regularly conduct joint maritime exercises. 

Identifying the blue economy as a key driver of Africa’s future, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the South African Navy, underscored the importance of balancing economic development with ecological preservation.

Discussions on the Djibouti Code of Conduct and the Lome Charter recognised the importance of enhancing implementation and adoption of the existing frameworks aimed at promoting maritime security in the region.

The navies also committed to prioritising engagement between African navies and defence industries on naval acquisitions.

At the conclusion of the conference, Vice Admiral Lobese urged other navy chiefs to immediately return home and put the plans they had discussed into practice. “We must take immediate action and keep trying different approaches until we see a significant improvement in addressing our marine security concerns. We cannot fail our people in this task.” 

Representation at the symposium included high ranking naval officials from Algeria, Burundi, The Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and South Africa.

With plans to convene the symposium every two years, the next Sea Power Africa Symposium is scheduled for May 2026 in Nigeria.

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