The Centre had the honour of hosting a high-level delegation from the 33rd Cours d’État-Major of the Côte d’Ivoire Armed Forces as part of an official study visit aimed at enhancing regional maritime security cooperation and knowledge sharing.
The delegation, comprising 36 senior officers from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Morocco, Senegal, and South Africa, was led by Lieutenant Colonel Zina Aubin Martial. Upon arrival, the delegation was warmly received by the Director of the Centre, Captain (Navy) Daniel Gnamien Ehu.
The purpose of the visit was to provide the officers with a comprehensive understanding of the Centre’s mandate, operational activities, and strategic approaches to combating maritime crime within the Zone F maritime area and the Gulf of Guinea. The visit also sought to expose participants to the Centre’s collaborative framework, which has significantly contributed to the sustained decline in maritime crimes across the region since its establishment.
During the programme, the Immigration Liaison Officer, DSI S. Biney, delivered a detailed presentation on the Centre’s mandate, organizational structure, core functions, and the collaborative mechanisms employed in coordinating maritime security operations among member states. The presentation highlighted the Centre’s role in fostering information sharing, inter-agency cooperation, and coordinated responses to emerging maritime threats.
Following the presentation, an engaging interactive session was held, during which members of the delegation asked several insightful questions. Discussions focused on the key factors behind the Centre’s remarkable achievements in reducing maritime crime, the operational strategies that have sustained these successes, and the measures adopted to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which remains one of the major challenges affecting maritime security and the blue economy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Responding to the questions, the Deputy Director of the Centre, Commander Quayson Otoo, provided detailed explanations on the Centre’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), operational coordination mechanisms, and the established protocols for responding to various maritime incidents. He emphasized the importance of timely information sharing, regional cooperation, coordinated patrols, and strong partnerships among maritime stakeholders in achieving effective maritime domain awareness and ensuring rapid responses to security threats.
The visit concluded with expressions of appreciation from the delegation, who commended the Centre for its professionalism, operational excellence, and significant contribution to strengthening maritime safety and security within the Gulf of Guinea. The engagement further reinforced the importance of continued regional collaboration, knowledge exchange, and collective commitment toward maintaining a secure and resilient maritime environment for all member states.