West Africa

IMO and the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July 2008 to establish a sub-regional integrated coastguard network in West and Central Africa and provide the framework of cooperation and guidance for the implementation of the Network.  http://www.amssa.net/framework/MOWCA.aspx The MOU states that the goal of the coastguard Function Network is to initiate joint efforts in the domain of maritime activities to protect human life, enforce laws and improve the safety and protection of the environment. 
 
In keeping with the MOU, the aim of our technical cooperation activities is to create an integrated coast guard function network project and to develop it with other maritime actors in West and Central Africa.  The focus is to extend West and Central African States' capabilities to implement and enforce maritime safety and security legislation and to counter piracy and armed robbery against ships and other criminal activities.  UN Resolution 2018/2011 adopted by the Security Council in October 2011 was the first ever resolution acknowledging the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and called for a comprehensive strategy to counter the rising threat of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea.
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