Cutting the bow wave: ‘Lessons from West and Central Africa’

Dr. Dirk Siebels has contributed to the annual CJOS COE (NATO) publication ‘Cutting the bow wave’ with an in-depth article on the security situation in West and Central Africa and how the region could serve as a case study for NATO, providing lessons that can be applied in other areas, which are a more strategic concern to the alliance.

23 February 2021

In the publication, Dr. Dirk Siebels writes:

”Lessons can be learned from the overall lack of sea control coupled with a diverse set of maritime security challenges in general as well as from the implications of the Covid-19 situation in particular.

Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, comprising coastal states between Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon, has developed into an increasing concern for the shipping industry and, by extension, for governments in many NATO member states. The International Maritime Bureau, for example, has warned that this area is 'increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping', accounting for virtually all maritime kidnappings worldwide.

In reality, however, the situation is complex. Countries across West and Central Africa have improved capabilities and cooperation in recent years, leading to a more accurate picture of illicit activities at sea. These are affecting all coastal countries in the region. Piracy may be the most headline-grabbing symptom, but it is only one of many issues related to maritime security and can therefore not be analysed or addressed in isolation.”

Elaborating on the complexity of the situation, Siebels writes:

“In a nutshell, it is impossible to gain a comprehensive understanding of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea when this phenomenon is looked at in isolation. Many alleged pirate attacks, for example, are closely related to disputes between criminal groups. Individual incidents must therefore be carefully analysed to identify probable links between piracy and other illicit activities at sea. Counter-piracy initiatives led by international stakeholders are further hampered by different priorities of virtually all governments across West and Central Africa. On the national level, piracy is generally not the primary concern related to maritime security.

Since most threats to a secure environment at sea are transnational by nature, regional efforts are required to eradicate or at least reduce them. Governments have long recognized the need for enhanced cooperation and adopted the Yaoundé Code of Conduct in 2013, bringing together coastal countries from Senegal to Angola. Cooperation has made significant progress in recent years, even though it has not come at the speed that representatives from the shipping industry or international partners would like to see. Furthermore, regional efforts are not merely aimed at a reduction of piracy.”

Read the full article starting on page 45 of the publication here: 2021 Cutting the bow wave