Africa can learn maritime lessons from its small island states

On January 24, the French frigate Nivôse seized 444 kg of methamphetamines and heroin worth more than 40 million euros from a dhow in the Mozambique Channel. This is the latest demonstration of the spread of transnational organized crime in the Western Indian Ocean.

The implications for safety and security along Africa’s long and largely unguarded coastline are serious. Much of the heroin trafficked between Afghanistan and Europe, for example, crosses the Indian Ocean along the infamous southern route.

Conflicts on land also represent a significant maritime threat. The Capo Delgado insurgency in Mozambique has increasingly developed a maritime component, with the potential for future maritime terrorism or piracy. The Western Indian Ocean also suffers from illegal fishing and the exploitation of other natural resources at sea, threatening the livelihoods of coastal communities.

While all African coastal states are affected, the small island developing states – Seychelles, Union of Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar and Réunion (France) – are the most affected as they are at the forefront of maritime threats. in this region.

A key issue for these island states has been that efforts by the African Union (AU) and African states to address maritime instability have not always reflected their interests. Small island states have had to struggle alone, overstretching themselves to meet maritime threats. The limited recognition of their efforts has been interpreted as an indication that their needs are not a priority for Africa. Instead, they have tended to forge stronger ties with non-African countries.

But that seems about to change. Recent developments reveal that island states are major players in regional efforts against organized crime at sea and other maritime issues. The active involvement of international organizations and partners, particularly in terms of funding, has contributed to these ongoing efforts.

Two factors explain the growing role of small island states. First, maritime problems are difficult to solve for a single country. The transnational nature of these threats means that the solution requires law enforcement cooperation, intelligence sharing and cross-border coordination. States such as Seychelles and Mauritius have positioned themselves as important players and reliable focal points for international counter-piracy efforts.

Second, island states tend to have limited resources, so the expense of acquiring the capability and means to deal with maritime threats is somewhat mitigated by their network of partnerships.

Small island states have struggled alone, exceeding their weight on maritime issues

As a result, maritime initiatives in the Western Indian Ocean have multiplied. Two intergovernmental organizations stand out. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) brings together 23 states bordering the Indian Ocean from Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Oceania and Europe. It enables cooperation between governments, universities and civil society on maritime security, trade, disaster management, blue economy and tourism. IORA has great potential, but has been slow to integrate maritime security into its work.

The second organization is the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), which has gradually taken on a central role in the establishment of maritime governance and security architecture. The original members of the IOC – Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar – were later joined by Réunion (France) and the Union of Comoros. The IOC is the only maritime organization made up exclusively of island states, which has enabled it to focus on their interests and challenges.

Although the IOC is not recognized by the AU as a regional economic community, it collaborates with and helps guide the maritime security efforts of other regional bodies such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa under the European Union funded Maritime Security Programme.

Island States are becoming major players in regional efforts against organized crime at sea

The effectiveness of the IOC goes beyond the interests of its members. It currently hosts the secretariat of the UN Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and leads the EU-funded Indian Ocean Regional Information Sharing Platform. The IOC has also established regional networks for sharing and coordinating maritime information in Madagascar and the Seychelles.

Also noteworthy is France’s role in these regional maritime efforts – as shown by the recent seizure of Mozambique. Although its presence is controversial for many African states, France has positioned itself as a key player in the region through its overseas territory, Réunion. France joined the IORA in 2020 and succeeds Comoros as IOC President from March 2021.

The pivotal role played by France in the Western Indian Ocean reveals a gap in the African approach to maritime security. The AU can remedy this by recognizing the success of the IOC and supporting the organizations involved.

While the IOC works closely with regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community and IGAD, and coastal states such as Kenya, no African country or organization has ever had the status of observer to the IOC. An AU presence as an observer can allay the fears of some African governments that foreign states are encroaching on their territory.

France’s Pivotal Role in the Western Indian Ocean Reveals a Gap in Africa’s Maritime Approach

The AU’s 2018 appointment of former Seychelles President Danny Faure as a blue economy champion is an important recognition of the value of small island states in realizing Africa’s maritime aspirations. The AU must now include these states in its decision-making structures for the benefit of both parties. Closer cooperation would support the overall AU objective of increasing wealth creation in a stable and secure African maritime domain.

Another opportunity to work proactively with small island states in the Western Indian Ocean may arise when SADC approves its new maritime security strategy. Protecting our seas and benefiting from the development of their vast potential is a common goal for all countries on the continent. Africa’s small island states have valuable lessons and experiences to share.

Richard Chelin, Researcher, ENACT, ISS and Denys Reva, Research Officer, Peace Operations and Peacebuilding, ISS Pretoria