ECOWAS co-chairs the 9th symposium of chiefs of naval staff and coast guard commanders of the Gulf of Guinea in Dakar

At the invitation of the Senegalese authorities through the Ministry of Armed Forces, H.E. Ms. Damtien TCHINTCHIBIDJA, Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, co-chaired with the Minister of Armed Forces of Senegal, Army General (2S) Birame DIOP, the opening ceremony of the 9th Symposium of Chiefs of Naval Staff and Coast Guard Commanders of the Gulf of Guinea, held in Dakar from November 18^th to 20^th, 2025.

In her speech, the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission recalled the importance of the symposium, which is the realization of a fundamental objective enshrined in the founding texts of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Architecture. It should be recalled that these texts were adopted following the commitment made by the Heads of State and Government of Central and West African States on Safety and Security in the common maritime space through the Declaration adopted in 2013.

She emphasized the undeniable strategic importance to the global economy of the Gulf of Guinea, which accounts for nearly 50% of Africa’s oil production, or 10% of global production, with reserves estimated at 24 billion barrels. The Gulf of Guinea is a vital artery for trade among the 19 coastal countries and an essential link in global trade, ensuring the passage of 10% of goods, 15% of oil, and 30% of uranium.

Speaking about the ECOWAS Commission’s current support to its member states for the establishment of national early warning mechanisms for human security, the Vice-President recalled how ECOWARN, the ECOWAS early warning system, monitors, among other indicators, issues related to maritime security, but also the vulnerabilities and risk factors associated with the involvement of former fishermen in piracy or other crimes such as migrant smuggling, and the impact of these challenges on our communities, whose vulnerabilities are exploited by criminal networks.