Aligning Africa’s Maritime Ambitions with Broader Indian Ocean Regionalism

This policy brief examines the alignment of Africa's maritime ambitions, specifically the African Union's 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy), with the regional efforts of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). It highlights the challenges of institutional fragmentation and the need for improved communication and coordination to realize the economic and environmental potential of the Blue Economy.

• The African Union's 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy), adopted in January 2014, aims to increase wealth from Africa's oceans, seas, and inland waterways through a sustainable maritime economy.
• Implementation of the 2050 AIM Strategy is hindered by institutional fragmentation and a lack of funding; several proposed mechanisms, such as the Department of Maritime Affairs and the 2050 AIM Strategy Capital Fund, have not yet been established.
• The 2050 AIM Strategy proposes the creation of a Combined Exclusive Maritime Zone of Africa (CEMZA) to establish a maritime space without barriers, though this may raise concerns regarding national sovereignty and resource use.
• The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) has undergone institutional renewal, narrowing its focus to six priority areas: Maritime Safety and Security, Trade and Investment Facilitation, Fisheries Management, Disaster Risk Management, Academic, Science and Technology, and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.
• In October 2014, IORA adopted the Blue Economy as its top priority for sustainability and employment, appointing lead coordinators from member states, including Indonesia for Fisheries and Aquaculture, the UAE for Renewable Ocean Energy, Singapore for Seaport and Shipping, and Australia for Seabed Exploration and Minerals.
• There is a significant risk of duplication and inefficiency in Blue Economy initiatives due to their broad nature and the lack of effective public communication platforms to coordinate activities.
• The document suggests that the 2050 AIM Strategy Task Force and IORA should increase exchanges to explore shared priorities, particularly as South Africa prepares to chair IORA from 2017 to 2019.

APA

BenKenstein, A. (2015). Aligning Africa’s Maritime Ambitions with Broader Indian Ocean Regionalism. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Policy-Insights-25.pdf

Chicago

BenKenstein, Alex. Aligning Africa’s Maritime Ambitions with Broader Indian Ocean Regionalism. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2015. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Policy-Insights-25.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=BenKenstein |first1=Alex |title=Aligning Africa’s Maritime Ambitions with Broader Indian Ocean Regionalism |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2015 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Policy-Insights-25.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{benkenstein2015aligning, author = {BenKenstein, Alex}, title = {{Aligning Africa’s Maritime Ambitions with Broader Indian Ocean Regionalism}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2015}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Policy-Insights-25.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }