Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1275^th meeting held on 23 April 2025 on the Imperative of a Combined Maritime Task Force in Addressing Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on the Security Situation in the Gulf of Guinea, particularly Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1209 (2023)] adopted at its 1209^th meeting, held on 18 April 2024; and Communiqué [PSC/ PR/COMM.1174 (2023)] adopted at its 1174th meeting held on 18 September 2023;

Also Recalling the African Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa (Lome Charter), adopted by the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union held in Lome, Togo, on 15 October 2016 and the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIM);

Taking note of the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the African Union (AU) as the Stand in Chairperson of the PSC for April 2025; and

Also taking note of the presentations by H.E. Moses Vilakati, the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy; Dr. Emmanuel Budu Addo, the Director of Administration at the Gulf of Guinea Commission, on behalf of H.E. Jose MBA Abeso, Executive Secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GoG); Commodore Mohammad Saghir Shettima, the Coordinating Commander of the Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF); presentation by Mr. Ahamada Soilihi Hassan, the Representative of the Indian Ocean Commission; as well as the Statements by the representatives of the Economic Community of Central African States  (ECCAS) and of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council,

1. Acknowledges that the Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF) for the GoG envisions a united, secure, safe, and resilient Gulf of Guinea, free of transnational organized crime, where people live in prosperity, peace, and security, and a region where African continental free trade and development can flourish;

2. Takes note of the milestones achieved since the establishment of the CMTF and emphasizes the importance of preserving the current momentum in ensuring a safe and secure Gulf of Guinea;

3. Welcomes the proposed flag–off ceremony for the Combined Maritime Task Force, in Lagos, Nigeria, during the course of 2025; also welcomes the invitation by the Gulf of Guinea Commission and expresses the readiness of the PSC to actively participate in the sea trip into the Gulf of Guinea as part of the flag-off ceremony;

4. Commends Nigeria’s commitment towards the effort made in operationalizing the Combined Maritime Task Force as an important transnational response mechanism for the region; and welcomes Nigeria’s pledge to host the Headquarters of the Combined Maritime Task Force of the Gulf of Guinea, in Lagos, Nigeria;

5. Encourages the AU and other regional organizations, as well as the bilateral and multilateral partners, to assist the Gulf of Guinea Member States with the requisite legal and other forms of operational support to ensure the full operationalization of the Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea in 2025;

6. Reiterates the need for increased collaboration with regional and international partners to further enhance intelligence sharing, plan joint patrols, and implement robust counter-terrorism measures to safeguard the Gulf of Guinea and to maintain regional stability;

7. Encourages Member States to support the operationalization of the Maritime Coordination Centre to enhance the coordination of maritime safety and security governance concerns of the five regions of the Continent;

8. Acknowledges the success of the Amani Africa 1 and 2 exercises, and encourages Member States and strategic partners to support the Gulf of Guinea Commission in planning and conducting the AMANI Africa III Command Post Maritime Exercise, which aims to enhance the African Standby Force (ASF) maritime capability to address maritime threats in continental waters;

9. Endorses the Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea as a standing, ready–to–deploy force, capable of rapid and coordinated regional maritime security responses in the Gulf of Guinea Region, and in this connection; and requests the AU Commission, through the PSOD, to take practical steps to collaborate with the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea to identify the capacity needs of the Task Force and to provide such support, including from the Continental Logistics Base (CLB) in order to position the Task Force as a critical naval component of the African Standby Force (ASF), operating in the Gulf of Guinea region;

10. Underscores the need to enhance capacity building to Member States along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea logistically, financially and technically in order to enhance Maritime Security in the region;

11. Welcomes the adoption of the Concept of Operations by additional 3 countries, thus making a total of 13 countries that have adopted the CONOPS; appeals to other countries in the region to consider joining the initiative; emphasizes the need   to  further develop the CONOPS into various instruments, regulations, policies and procedures for operationalizing the CMTF; and in this regard, stresses the need for establishing a multidisciplinary task team to follow up on the operationalization of the CMTF;

12. Encourages Member States of the Gulf of Guinea Commission to provide robust political support for the full and effective operationalization of the Combined Maritime Task Force, with a view to further enhancing maritime security activities in the region;

13. Requests Members of the Combined Maritime Task Force to continue to cooperate in carrying out joint maritime operations and counter piracy operations in the region;

14. Reiterates the request for the AU Commission to take practical steps towards ensuring stakeholders’ participation, including formal inauguration of the Committee of African Heads of Navies and Coast Guards (CHANS) as enshrined in the AIMS 2050;

15. Also requests the AU Commission and the Gulf of Guinea Commission to leverage the interest of international partners in capacity building and in improving infrastructure for maritime security, as well as to support regional mechanisms to align their maritime security and safety strategies with the AIM 2050 framework;

16. Stresses the need for further enhancement of operational coherence and coordination between the CMTF and similar frameworks, such as the structures of the Yaoundé Architecture, particularly the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC), CRESMAC and CRESMAO, including by developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing and response;

17. Requests the Commission to expedite the establishment and operationalization, within the AU Commission, of a Coordination Mechanism, or Maritime Security Unit, without any financial implications, pursuant to paragraph 12 of Communique [PSC/ PR/COMM. 1174 (2023)] adopted by the PSC at its 1174th meeting held on 18 September 2023;

18. Also stresses the need for Member States to comprehensively address the underlying root causes and structural drivers of maritime crimes and illegal activities at sea, including the push and pull factors that inform this phenomenon and the strict enforcement of accountability measures in this regard; the need for continental approach that involves non-coastal states is imperative while addressing maritime threats through effective security responses and law enforcement; and promoting maritime security governance;

19. Underscores the importance for harmonization and coordination of maritime approaches of the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) in the Continent to collectively address maritime security challenges;

20. Also underscores the need for the AU Commission to provide assistance in establishing the necessary legal framework to strengthen the anti-piracy efforts of the Combined Maritime Task Force in Gulf of Guinea;

21. Further underscores the importance of assigning the Military Staff Committee to undertake a Field Mission to the Headquarters of the Combined Maritime Task Force in Lagos, Nigeria in order to obtain first-hand information and advise the PSC on the way forward, regarding the operationalization of the CMTF;

22. Recalls the Moroni Declaration for Ocean and Climate Action in Africa, adopted in the Union of the Comoros on 14 June 2023; takes note of the proposal from the Indian Ocean Commission to enhance collaboration between the Regional Maritime Security Architecture (RMSA) of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC); stresses the need for establishing an Annual African Coast Guard Forum under the leadership of the African Union Commission to collectively address maritime security challenges in the continent;

23. Welcomes the initiatives already undertaken by the Indian Ocean Commission, including its participation in the Gulf of Guinea Commission meetings; requests for a consultative meeting between the Indian Ocean Commission and Council;

24. Encourages Member States to conduct Strategic Environmental Assessment for projects which would threaten the Marine ecosystem, biodiversity, human and marine life;

25. Emphasizes the need for the Combined Maritime Task Force to report on its activities regularly to the Council; and

26. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS