ECOWAS GOVERNMENT EXPERTS CONCLUDE MEETING IN LOMÉ TO REVIEW INTEGRATED MARITIME STRATEGY ACTION PLAN

The Government Experts Meeting on the Review of the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy (EIMS) Action Plan will conclude today at the ‘’Palais de Congrès’’ in Lomé, Republic of Togo, after four days of deliberations from 21 to 24 April 2026. This meeting was organized by the Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security of the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through the Safe Seas for Africa project funded by the European Union.

The objective of the meeting was to enable ECOWAS Government Experts to review and contribute to the EIMS Strategy Action Plan, in line with the ECOWAS validation and adoption process, and to ensure coordinated implementation in accordance with the mandate of the ECOWAS Commission.

The meeting brought together experts from Ministries of Defence, Transport, Foreign Affairs, and Committees for State Action at Sea from ECOWAS Member States and a delegation from the ECOWAS Commission led by Dr. Cyriaque AGNEKETHOM, Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security.

Other key participants included the Head of the West Africa Regional Maritime Security Centre (CRESMAO), Heads of Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres (MMCCs) Zones E, F, and G, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the European Union Delegation.

Captain Babate ATATOUM, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Togolese Navy, opened the meeting by highlighting profound changes in the maritime domain. He reaffirmed Togo’s commitment since 2014 to a safe and prosperous maritime space, presenting the EIMS Action Plan as an operational roadmap to pool resources and strengthen interoperability of naval forces.

Mr. Ferruccio BOGO, representing the European Union Delegation in Togo, commended ECOWAS for its strong regional instrument on maritime security. He noted that the Gulf of Guinea presents major opportunities for the blue economy but remains exposed to evolving threats. With over 90% of African trade moving by sea, secure maritime routes are vital for sustainable regional development.

On behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Toure,  Amb. Emily DEWEH, ECOWAS Resident Representative, stressed the need for coordinated responses among maritime entities and thanked the Government and people of Togo for their hospitality.

His Excellency Stanislas BABA, Minister Advisor for the Sea, represented by Mr. Lare PENN, stated that the West African maritime domain is a pillar of regional integration, yet faces piracy, illicit trafficking, IUU fishing, and climate change impacts, calling for concerted regional responses.

His Excellency Kokou Edem KOKOU, Minister of Maritime Economy, Fisheries and Coastal Protection, called the session decisive: “A strategy without an action plan is like a compass without a map.” He affirmed Togo’s commitment to implementing the meeting’s conclusions beyond its role as logistical host.The EIMS Action Plan seeks to enhance governance, operational coordination, and resource pooling to address maritime threats and harness the full potential of West Africa’s blue economy.