Approaches to piracy, armed robbery at sea, and other maritime crime in west and central africa

Abstract

Military approaches to maritime crime and insecurity in West and Central Africa, particularly piracy and armed robbery at sea, can largely be grouped under the heading of ‘cooperation’. The nature and nuances of that cooperation continues to evolve, becoming increasingly sophisticated and effective. While the complexity of the threat picture in the Gulf of Guinea continues to pose daunting challenges for regional states and international partners alike, the ongoing drive towards cooperation regimes has begun to yield promising results. This chapter examines the maritime security architecture in West and Central Africa, focusing on military-backed cooperation initiatives, and exploring both their goals and the gaps that remains to be filled. Ultimately, it argues that the military approaches to piracy and other maritime crime in West and Central Africa are focused on realising development through cooperation. Tangibly distinct from other counter-piracy efforts, this military undertaking in the Gulf of Guinea, therefore, has a chance to foster long-term peace, security, stability and prosperity.