That 25 delegations from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) assembled at the Yaounde Conference Centre from 24-25 June 2013

to discuss the pernicious problem of safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea was no mean issue.

Out of the delegates present, 14 were either led by their Head or State of Vice President. To mark his ardent commitment to the issues, host President, Paul Biya clearly recalled the concerns of his peers and gave some indications as to the way forward both in his opening and closing speeches.  In effect, virtually all Heads of State whose countries are directly or indirectly affected by the growing insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea were present, definitely to signify the importance of the issues at stake.

Of course, being present is one thing and ensuring that the decisions taken are fully applied is another. That understanding underpinned President Biya’s insistence that there was little time to waste and they had an obligation to produce results by making the waters of the Gulf of Guinea secure for the present and future generations. Presidents Idriss Deby Itno of Chad and Alassane Dramane Outtarra of Côte d’Ivoire who made formal declarations at the Summit and others who spoke before leaving Yaounde, all echoed the urgency and need for common action.

Thus, proposals made at the close of the summit on 25 June by experts and Foreign Affairs Ministers of ECOWAS, ECCAS, and the GGC, could not simply be seen as resolutions of another summit. The Heads of State aptly gave shape to the key areas of concern which the experts and Foreign Affairs Ministers settled on, after the Cotonou, Benin (18-19 March 2013)  and Yaounde, Cameroon (21 June 2013) meetings to prepare for the summit discussions.  

Piracy, armed robbery, drug trafficking, circulation of illicit arms and other vices that have of late been commonplace in the Gulf of Guinea have continued to be detrimental not only to the States, but also to individuals living in countries of the Gulf of Guinea. That was why President Biya recalled in his speech the oceans which in the past facilitated movement from one region to the other with the added advantage of exchange of ideas and human interaction, were no longer safe.

The volatile nature of ocean waters and the marshy nature of the creeks surrounding the Gulf of Guinea have all favoured dangerous activities by snipers and drug traffickers who wreck havoc on the populations and disappear back into the high seas. Such growing attacks have made it difficult for individual countries to tackle the hurdles alone. It is therefore not been fortuitous that President Paul Biya and his peers continue to refer to support by various international organs in the holding of the Yaounde Summit, The UN Security Council recommended in its 2039 Resolution of 29 February 2012 that ECCAS, ECOWAS blocs and the GGC should chart a common course against insecurity in the region.     

Although with only two per cent of attacks from the Gulf of Guinea witnessed in Cameroon, Mr. Biya still thought it wise to press for the summit in Yaounde, knowing that its windfall would benefit all and sundry. And in compliance with the view that collective action is indispensable for the achievement of required results, Mr Biya pointed to the fundamental concern that there can be no development without peace. Thus, his disclosure at the opening session of the summit that the UN’s preoccupation was in line with the aspirations of Cameroon, thereby, justifying Yaounde’s interest to gather 13 Heads of State to take binding decisions to ensure security and safety throughout the Gulf of Guinea.