THE NEXUS BETWEEN PROSPERITY IN THE AFRICAN MARITIME DOMAIN AND MARITIME SECURITY

This policy briefing examines the interdependence between the 'Blue Economy' and maritime security within the African maritime domain, arguing that a thriving ocean economy is impossible without integrated governance that addresses criminal activity at sea.

• The 'Blue Economy' and 'maritime security' are central but often undefined concepts in ocean governance. A successful Blue Economy requires a sustainable relationship with the ocean that integrates the provision of goods and services with the protection of marine resources, property, and life, while addressing root causes rather than just symptoms.
• Maritime security in Africa is threatened by a wide array of criminal activities, including piracy, armed robbery, human trafficking, drug and arms trafficking, money laundering, maritime terrorism, fisheries crime, and illegal oil bunkering or crude oil theft. These threats are multifaceted, as criminals often shift between different types of illegal activities.
• Lawlessness at sea is driven by several factors, including insufficient or unsuitable naval assets for protecting territorial waters, difficulties in prosecuting maritime crimes, and the underutilization of existing legislative powers. While international and regional legal frameworks exist, many have not been acceded to or implemented.
• The African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development (the Lomé Charter), adopted on 15 October 2016, is a critical instrument for improving security through state collaboration, information sharing, and the creation of national maritime coordination agencies. The author recommends that African member states ratify this charter and integrate it into national policies.
• Maritime transport is essential to the Blue Economy, as 90% of cargoes and commodities are carried by sea. Consequently, maritime threats have significant knock-on effects on global food security, energy security, economic security, and the manufacturing and trade industries.

APA

SWANEPOEL, E. (2017). THE NEXUS BETWEEN PROSPERITY IN THE AFRICAN MARITIME DOMAIN AND MARITIME SECURITY. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Briefing-163.pdf

Chicago

SWANEPOEL, ERNESTA. THE NEXUS BETWEEN PROSPERITY IN THE AFRICAN MARITIME DOMAIN AND MARITIME SECURITY. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2017. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Briefing-163.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=SWANEPOEL |first1=ERNESTA |title=THE NEXUS BETWEEN PROSPERITY IN THE AFRICAN MARITIME DOMAIN AND MARITIME SECURITY |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=June 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Briefing-163.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{swanepoel2017nexus, author = {SWANEPOEL, ERNESTA}, title = {{THE NEXUS BETWEEN PROSPERITY IN THE AFRICAN MARITIME DOMAIN AND MARITIME SECURITY}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Briefing-163.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }