Maritime Security: legal audits in 5 Guinea Gulf States

The legal framework for maritime security in the Guinea Gulf states is one of the component covered today by GoGIN (Gulf of Guinea Inter-Regional Network). In particular, GoGIN provides support in the the definition of the legal framework for the exchange of maritime information between the states and regional actors, as well as in the reinforcement of legal frameworks for maritime interventions.

During the second half of 2018, this component will be provided by the future regional projects, SWAIMS (Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security) for the ECOWAS zone, and PASSMAR (Support Program for Maritime Safety and Security Strategy) in Central Africa for the ECCAS zone. These two regional projects will entrust this action to UNODC, which has already carried out numerous missions in this field in the Gulf of Guinea.

Joint legal audits with UNODC

In this perspective, GoGIN has approached UNODC to jointly lead missions in order to assess the legal capacities of the countries of this region in the field of repression of illegal maritime activities It aims at being able to propose potential areas for improvement and capacity building that can be implemented by regional projects.

This evaluation includes an inventory of the ratifications of the main international maritime conventions (UNCLOS, SOLAS, MARPOL, SUA, Vienna 1988, Palermo 2000...), their translation into domestic law, the organization of the judicial and repressive system (competent courts, offenses, penalties applicable, detention procedures, use of force, collection of evidence...), cooperation between administrations, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in extradition, etc.

A country assessment mission

A mission is planned for each of the five selected countries. The first assessment mission, conducted in close coordination with H.E. Ambassador Hélène Cavé, Head of the European Union Delegation in Monrovia, was completed in Liberia in mid-April and received the full support of the Liberian authorities.

Another mission was held in Senegal from April 23-28, under the guidance of the Legal Adviser of the High Authority for Safety and Maritime Safety in Senegal (HASSMAR), Judge Ousmane Diouf, and by Giuseppe Sernia from UNODC. A third mission was conducted in early May in Cabo Verde by Giuseppe Sernia and Marta Chantal Ribeiro, legal expert, GoGIN project.

The missions to Guinea and Sierra Leone will take place by the summer of 2018.

For more information on the project, follow the @GoGIN_Project thread  or visit the GoGIN - Gulf of Guinea Inter-Regional Network website.