September 12, (THEWILL) – Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo have inaugurated “Operation Safe Domain II”, as a collaborative effort towards eradicating piracy and maritime crimes within their domain, especially the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at the inauguration on Monday, Director of Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC), Zone E, Commodore Aniedi Ibok, said the Operation was in furtherance of the implementation of the MOU on Joint Maritime Operations and Patrols (JMOP), agreed upon by the countries.
The Yaonde Code of Conduct in 2013 divided the Gulf of Guinea into two sub regions, coordinated in the West by the Regional Centre for Maritime Security in West Africa (CRESMAO) and to the East by the Regional Centre for Maritime Security in Central Africa (CRESMAC).
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Integrated Maritime Strategy (EIMS) further established the three maritime zones of E, F and G in 2014.
Zone E was established earlier as the pilot project in 2013 and its success resulted in the establishment of other zones.
According to the director, the purpose of the JMOP is primarily to ensure the permanent, joint and coordinated control of the Maritime Zone E’ with a view to ensuring maritime safety and security.
Ibok said the operation was wholly sponsored by ECOWAS and Member States of Zone E. He added that the operation was necessitated by the high rate of illicit maritime activities including piracy and sea robbery, reported over time in the Gulf of Guinea and West African waters in particular.
“These security challenges undermine the economic development of the zone while endangering the livelihood of local coastal communities and seafarers in general. Therefore, the operation will help defeat the adversary in whatever form they appear”, he said.
According to Ibok, the objectives of the patrols and joint operations are to pool resources of the states parties, make the maritime resources interoperable and evaluate the Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs).
“The objectives will also operationalise the right of hot pursuit as defined by the rules of engagement, multilateral and bilateral memoranda to secure the maritime area of the Maritime Zone E”, he said
The Benin Chief of Defence Staff, Brig.-Gen. Fructueux Gbaguidi, who said that the country had been facing piracy problems called out to neighbouring countries for help.
“That is why the four countries have come together to form a formidable force against piracy and maritime crimes. The collaboration of these countries led to the establishment of ‘Op Safe Domain I’ in 2021 and the success of the operation has led to ‘Op Safe Domain II’ in 2023″, Gbaguidi said.
Also, the Benin Republic Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Captain Jean Le’on Olatoundji, said that only the collaboration of countries can help improve the fight against the disastrous activities of piracy.
Olatoundji said that ‘Op Safe Domain II’ demonstrated the member countries common will to face up to the threat in the maritime domain and piracy in the zone.
The Director, Regional Maritime Security Coordination Centre, West Africa, Commodore Richard Shammah, said: “This operation is necessary so that we can have a sea line of communication and trade and no one country can do it alone hence the collaborative effort.”
THEWILL reports that the event, which is being held at MMCC Zone E Complex is from Sept.11 to Sept.15 at Cotonou Port Naval Base, Republic of Benin, has the theme: “Enhancing Maritime Security Through Collaboration for Regional Prosperity”.
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