West Africa: Is Gambia Being Left Behind On U.S. West Africa Maritime Security?

Foroyaa is informed that Nigeria is to host a Summit on Maritime Security, with Naval Chiefs from 13 West African States and the US Naval Forces. We will do a follow up to find out whether the participating countries have signed the agreement rejected by the National Assembly of the Gambia touching on surveillance of territorial waters of the Gambia by US and Gambian Naval forces to combat drug trafficking and other illegal maritime activities. The meeting in Nigeria appears to be a build up on the meetings held in Benin and Cameroon.

Readers would recall that last Month 25 West African and Central African states held a summit in Cameroon on maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea to coordinate their efforts in addressing illegal activities in the region. They have the aim to initiate a "coordinated Regional and international response to address the problems of piracy, drug trafficking, armed robbery and other illegal maritime activities in the gulf of Guinea" Prior to this, "The Ministers for Security, Foreign Affairs and Defence from the 25 West African and Central African States produced a Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Security in these two African regions and approved a draft Code of Conduct designed to prevent and combat piracy, armed robbery and illegal activities committed against ships."

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