(Article)
By: Mohamed Sahr mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
The seas of Zone E are a haven for criminals, pirates, and those looking to take advantage of others. This zone is considered to be the most dangerous maritime area due to the high incidence of piracy and other crimes.
In this region, the rule of law is weak and the lack of opportunities leaves many without hope. Pirates roam these waters, preying on those who are just trying to make a living. Even though efforts have been made to curb these maritime crimes such as oil bunkering, piracy, drug trafficking, and Illegal Unregulated Unreported fishing (IUU fishing) among others, the region is plagued by poverty, unemployment, and a lack of effective enforcement of maritime laws. As a result, it has become a hotspot for illegal activities.
Foremost, Zone E is the remote and isolated part of the Gulf of Guinea. It remains the deadliest region in the maritime domain and is more than 400 nautical miles from the coast of West Africa, and the nearest major port is over 600 nautical miles away.
There are very few countries that have a presence in the region, and most of the islands and atolls are uninhabited. Owing to this, there is little or no infrastructure and few resources available to support maritime security across the region. This makes the region a dining home for piracy and other crimes.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2019 published a report that many of the islands in the region were uninhabited and remote and served as natural safe havens for criminal activity.
The International Maritime Organization’s report in 2016 highlighted the remoteness of the region and the lack of resources to monitor and patrol the zone.
Nonetheless, the zone is home to small islands that are used by pirates. Satellite imagery and geographical data from sources like Google Earth show the existence of these islands, and their proximity to major shipping routes in the Gulf of Guinea. In addition, there have been reports from maritime organizations and media outlets that have documented pirate activity in the region, alongside interviews with pirates who have admitted to using the islands as bases for their operations. The International Maritime Bureau published in 2017, that pirates have been known to use islands for attacks. Also, the United States Naval Institute reported in 2013 the use of islands by pirates, including specific examples of attacks that have taken place from these islands.
Moreover, the countries in Zone E which comprises Benin, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo have high levels of poverty and economic deprivation. Though efforts were made by the ECOWAS Commission to inaugurate the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Pilot Zone E, and the implementation of ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy in Cotonou, Benin in 2015 which marked as solid evidence of member states’ commitment to solving the tight head issue of maritime piracy along with other illicit operations at sea. These countries are among the highest ranking in the world with more than half of the population living below the poverty line coupled with their lowest range on the Human Development Index.
The lack of economic opportunities and infrastructure in these countries has led to high rates of unemployment and underemployment and also contributed to the rise of piracy.
The World Bank’s “Poverty in a Rising Africa” report in 2018 provided unbearable data on poverty levels in Benin, Togo, Niger and Nigeria.
The United States Department’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices also provided information on poverty and unemployment in these countries.
In summary, Zone E is a region that is known for its high levels of poverty, unemployment, and economic deprivation. These conditions have even led to the rise in piracy and other crimes. There is also a lack of infrastructure and effective enforcement of maritime laws such as the Yaounde Code of Conduct of 2013, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Gulf of Guinea Convention, the ECOWAS Convention, the SAU Convention, International Chamber of Commerce Maritime Bureau to name a few.
Notwithstanding, irrespective of these challenges facing Zone E, I believe if this cyclone of ideas and modalities is put in place, Zone E will be a safe region, particularly for the enhancement of the blue economy and SDGs. That is to improve law enforcement and security vis-a-vis through joint operations between navies and coast guards.
These operations could target pirate hotspots and scale up the capacity of local law enforcement to combat crime. Another way is to support economic development in the region through foreign and direct investments in sectors like agriculture, fishing, and tourism. These industries could create jobs and increase income levels while reducing the crime rate.
Finally, education and awareness crusades could focus on providing life skills training, and vocational training and disseminate information about the dangers of piracy. These measures could help to change attitudes and reduce the appeal of a life of crime.
