EnMAR+ – Enhanced Maritime Action in the Gulf of Guinea, Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean

With 90% of world trade transported by ship, maritime security is today an international priority. The Gulf of Guinea (GoG), the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) are key maritime areas of interest for the EU. These regions are a critical conduit for cargo and energy between Asia, Africa and Europe. 

However, rising threats such as piracy, organised crime, geopolitical tensions, and disruptions to critical infrastructure have underscored the need to protect maritime routes and enhance infrastructure resilience, both of which are indispensable to regional prosperity, EU economic growth, and global stability.  

A first phase of the project ‘Enhanced MARitime Action in the Gulf of Guinea’ EnMAR was implemented from October 2022 to April 2026. It was instrumental in contributing to improving maritime security and economic prosperity in the region.

Under the guidance of the EU Senior Coordinator for Maritime Security the project not only improved visibility over EU-funded projects; it also contributed to a better articulation between political guidance, maritime security presence and operational opportunities in the region.

Key figures of the first phase:

• +100 activities organised, a third of which were related to political or strategic events, a third aimed at strengthening the capacities of States and the regional centres of the Yaoundé Architecture, and a third aimed at strengthening coordination
• +2,000 participants, mainly from the defence and security, research and education, foreign affairs, port and media sectors and a third of whom were women
• ≈ 20 analyses were produced or funded for internal or external audiences, over 200 posts were published on social media and over 20 videos were produced
• +23,500 people were reached by the communication products developed

Building on the achievements of the previous EnMAR project in the Gulf of Guinea, EnMAR+ evolves strategically to enhance maritime security and governance not only in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) but in the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) as well.

To this end, Expertise France is working with its partners on three lines of action:

1. Political engagement: To deepen the EU’s maritime diplomacy, political influence and partnerships by fostering political dialogue and enhancing collaboration with regional and national stakeholders.
2. Coordination: To streamline the EU’s maritime security efforts across targeted regions and enhance synergy
3. Strategic communication: To bolster the EU’s role as a leading maritime security provider through strategic communication efforts that enhance visibility, promote EU values, and highlight the benefits of collaborative security initiatives.

• Platform for exchanges on the action of the European Union and other international initiatives related to maritime security
• Technical, logistical and financial support to strategic EU’s activities
• Maritime expertise and maritime domain awareness
• Holistic approach to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean.
• Fostering female inclusion in maritime security
• Engaging civil society on maritime sector opportunities