The accord, signed on September 11, 2014, in Yaounde, allows ICC to operate formally.
The newly created Inter-regional Coordination Centre, ICC, for Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea in Yaounde is now functional after the agreement for the location of its headquarters was signed yesterday, September 11, 2014 in the Ministry of External Relations, MINREX.
The Minister of External Relations, Prof. Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, signed for government, while the Secretary General of the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, Ahmad Allam-mi, did so for his organisation. Also present at the event was the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o, cabinet ministers, foreign diplomats and military officials.
Prof. Moukoko Mbonjo explained that for the ICC to operate in accordance with international norms, the headquarter location agreement needed to be signed with the government of Cameroon. The accord formally grants ICC the right to operate as well as offers certain benefits such as diplomatic immunity, in order to facilitate its work, he explained.
The Minister described the event as evidence of President Paul Biya’s support to the fight against maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. Citing President Biya, the Minister said tackling sea piracy in the region was so serious that it could not be toyed with. He expressed hope that the interim management of the security coordination centre will propose innovative ways of combating maritime insecurity.
Earlier in his comment, Ahmad Allam-mi said the signing of the agreement was a big step forward since the June 24-25, 2013 Heads of State summit in Yaounde on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. With ICC now formally recognised by the host country, the ECCAS Secretary General expressed hope that pressing security challenges will be tackled before the next leaders’ summit in 2016.
Piracy, he pointed out, was a real threat in the Gulf of Guinea; reason why the international community has rallied behind sub-regional institutions to tackle it. He appealed to ECCAS and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS States to ensure that their sub-regional institutions work hard to ensure success in the fight.
