ECCAS AND ITS PARTNERS STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMITMENT FOR REGIONAL MARITIME SECURITY

Yaoundé 16 May 2026 (Republic of Cameroon) - Meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, senior officials of ECCAS, ECOWAS and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GCG) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime safety and security governance and operational capacity in the Gulf of Guinea. This fifth regular session of the Annual Meeting of Senior Officials (ARHR) also resulted in the adoption of the Strategic Plan 2026-2030 and the 2026 budget of the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC).

A strategic meeting for regional maritime security

The 5th Ordinary Session of the Annual Meeting of Senior Officials of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea was held on 16 May 2026 in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon.

The work was opened under the chairmanship of H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ezekiel Nibigira, Chairman of the ECCAS Commission and Chairman-in-Office of RAHR. Several high-level personalities took part in this interregional meeting, including H.E. José Mba Abeso, Executive Secretary of the GGC, Vice-Admiral Mendoua Jean representing the Cameroonian government, as well as officials of the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) and the Regional Centre for Maritime Security of Central Africa (CRESMAC).

Representatives of the Cameroonian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Yaoundé and experts from the various partner institutions also participated.

The recommendations of the fourth session reaffirmed

During the course of the work, senior officials monitored and validated the report submitted by the experts. In particular, they reaffirmed their commitment to implement the conclusions of the fourth regular session of the RAHR.

Participants emphasized the need to further strengthen the governance, operational capacity and follow-up to the recommendations of the ICC in order to better address the persistent security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea, a strategic area for African maritime trade, but still facing several threats, including piracy, illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime.

Senior management also reviewed activity and financial reports for the financial years 2024 and 2025. On that occasion, they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the financial sustainability and administrative governance of CIC, while strengthening its operational capacity.

Adoption of CIC Strategic Plan 2026-2030

One of the highlights of this meeting was the adoption of the Strategic Plan 2026-2030 of the Interregional Coordination Centre. Participants stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships, improving the institutional visibility of the Centre and ensuring strategic alignment with the reforms undertaken within ECCAS, ECOWAS and the GMC.

Senior officials also adopted the CIC Budget 2026. They reaffirmed their ambition to promote the financial autonomy of the Centre and better harmonisation of financial management mechanisms.

In this dynamic, recommendations were made to improve budget planning, monitoring Member States' contributions, the capacity of financial personnel and the credibility of budget forecasts.

Regional cooperation to strengthen

Through this fifth regular session of the RAHR, the regional partner organizations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening interregional cooperation to ensure maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

This Yaoundé meeting marks a new step in strengthening the regional maritime security architecture, which is seen as an essential lever for stability, economic development and regional integration in Central and West Africa.