Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Establishing Law, Generating Order

This policy briefing examines the challenges of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, highlighting the gap between the perceived prevalence of 'petro-piracy' and the actual data on maritime crime. The author argues that underreporting and a lack of specific legal frameworks hinder evidence-based policymaking and effective prosecution. The document identifies the October 2016 African Union summit in Lomé, Togo, as a critical opportunity to establish a legally binding charter to define maritime crimes and standardize reporting requirements.

• Data from 2009 to 2013 contradicts the common perception that maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea is primarily 'petro-piracy'. In reality, 48% of incidents were petty theft from vessels at berth or awaiting berth, 29% were armed robbery at sea, and 8% were kidnap for ransom, while only 2% were classified as petro-piracy.
• Significant underreporting of maritime incidents occurs, with estimates suggesting that between 30% and 80% of all incidents go unreported. This is attributed to a lack of reporting requirements for shipping and private security companies, inconsistencies in reporting to international bodies like the IMB and IMO, and the high time and cost associated with providing evidence for prosecutions.
• The lack of specific legal instruments to categorize and criminalize maritime activity complicates prosecution. In West Africa, legal instruments are described as 'underdeveloped, outdated, or non-existent'. For example, Togo's code uses a definition not fully applicable to current criminal phenomena and lacks specific laws on piracy.
• The African Union summit in Lomé, Togo, scheduled for October 2016, is viewed as a unique opportunity to adopt a legally binding charter on maritime security and safety. This charter could provide a roadmap for African states to agree on legal definitions of maritime crimes and establish common reporting policies.
• The author recommends that policymakers at the Lomé summit legally define the range of maritime crimes and require their criminalization through national legislation. Additionally, the author suggests requiring shippers to report all incidents under a charter and adopting a more detailed reporting template via the IMB/IMO to enable evidence-based policymaking.

APA

Otto, L. (2016). Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Establishing Law, Generating Order. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Policy-Briefing-151.pdf

Chicago

Otto, Lisa. Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Establishing Law, Generating Order. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2016. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Policy-Briefing-151.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Otto |first1=Lisa |title=Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Establishing Law, Generating Order |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Policy-Briefing-151.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{otto2016maritime, author = {Otto, Lisa}, title = {{Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Establishing Law, Generating Order}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Policy-Briefing-151.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }