The Gulf of Guinea and West Africa: a new focal point?

[davidbfpo]

A bit more detail on the DEA's sting off Guinea:http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/0...96N0AR20130724

Moderator at work

With the reported growth in piracy off West Africa a new thread was started 21st October 2013, 'West African piracy: an old problem escalates' and eight maritime / piracy posts have been copied from this thread to there (ends).

[davidbfpo]

An update by Reuters on Guinea which starts with:

A surge in cocaine trafficking has transformed Guinea into West Africa's latest drug hot spot, jeopardising President Alpha Conde's efforts to rebuild state institutions after a military coup and attract billion of dollars in mining investment.

Link:http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/0...A0U0FY20140131

[davidbfpo]

The UK Chamber of Shipping, clearly an interest group, has published a report and in summary says:

Most people are aware of pirate activity off Somalia, but lawlessness in the Gulf of Guinea is a major threat to our seafarers, the UK’s energy and trade security, and to the economic development of the region. Nigeria and other states in the region have known for 30 years that piracy was a problem, but too little has been done and enough is enough.

Some figures cited:

• In the past decade, 45 seafarers have been killed and 459 seafarers have been held hostage
• There is at least one attack per week on a ship operating in the region, but up to two thirds of attacks are believed to go unreported
• In 2013, 60% of attacks took place in Nigerian territorial waters and there is a trend for increasing violence within attacks
• Around 12% of the UK’s crude oil is imported from Nigeria, and by 2050 the region will hold 25% of the world’s oil production
• Around 5000 vessels, of all nationalities, call at Nigerian ports every year
• Nigerian statistics shows that 300,000 barrels of oil are stolen every single day

On a very quick read there is no reference to seeking Royal Navy help, rather direct payment to local navies / coastguards can help.



Link to press release:http://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/n...w-study-shows/ and the nine page report:http://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/m...-july_2014.pdf

[davidbfpo]

Well is this rhetoric or reality time will tell.

The SA Navy will deploy warships on Africa’s west coast as far north as the Gulf of Guinea. The deployments, early next year, will involve frigates and possibly submarines Johannesburg daily, The Times, reported. Ships of the Namibian and Angolan navies will also take part in the operation to combat pirate attacks. Oil tankers have been the pirates' preferred targets.

Link:http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...ity&Itemid=233

Yes a small number of oil tankers - with product, not crude oil - have been attacked and recently there was an attempt a long way offshore from Nigeria.

Open sources do not suggest either Angola or Namibia have a navy beyond a few patrol vessels.

[davidbfpo]

A rare article on this West African country, with a hopeful sub-title:

Poverty, political instability and weak institutions allowed South American cocaine cartels in, but with US and UN help the country is trying to fight back

Link:http://www.theguardian.com/global-de...al-drugs-trade

[davidbfpo]

A broad overview:

In addition to terrorism, the Sahel faces a host of thorny intertwined issues, which if not dealt with could plunge the region into chaos.

Link:https://www.opendemocracy.net/arab-a...y-weakest-link

[davidbfpo]

Hat tip to WoTR for this short overview of AQIM activity in West Africa, the catalyst being the attack on a beach resort, Grand Bassam, in the Ivory Coast:http://warontherocks.com/2016/05/bey...african-coast/

Not to overlook two earlier attacks in Bamako and Ouagadougou.

Being close to the ground, my words, the authors draw attention to:

Predominantly young men, these migrants travel to littoral West Africa to work as laborers on commercial farms or as petty traders. Abidjan and Accra possess teeming neighborhoods of foreign-born migrants, many of whom spend seven to eight months a year in these urban areas before returning to their home villages in time for the annual harvest.