Reimagining counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Guinea: Lessons from the theory of infrastructure for coordination and information sharing

Abstract

Piracy has been a longstanding focal point of Africa's maritime security discourse, initially spotlighting the Gulf of Aden and later pivoting to the Gulf of Guinea. Amid unique regional challenges, including fragmented governance and thinly stretched maritime capabilities, several supra-regional interventions have emerged, aiming to curb piracy. Notwithstanding a significant dip in piracy incidents from 2020 to 2022, the quest for enduring stability in the region remains. This paper leverages the theory of infrastructure to examine information-sharing and coordination within the Gulf of Guinea's counter-piracy landscape, with a focus on the Yaoundé Architecture. Methodologically, the article proffers a novel lens for understanding the region’s complex counter-piracy arena–one that could apply to other security contexts. Theoretically, it enriches scholarly counter-piracy debate by introducing the notion of counter-piracy infrastructures. Amongst other things, the paper posits that as part of a complex infrastructure, counter-piracy actors in the region have unique opportunities to grow as collective interlocutors, paving the way for fortified relationships that can strengthen counter-piracy efforts.