With 90 percentage of the earth ’ mho trade wind carried by sea, maritime security is a cardinal lever of the ball-shaped economy. “ No transportation, no shop, ” is how Africa Center Adjunct Professor Ian Ralby sums it up. “ If we don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate secure the nautical domain, our entire way of life sentence will change. ”The Seychelles, a 115-island archipelago in the indian Ocean, has been at the vanguard of protecting the maritime domain and prosecute maritime crimes, not entirely in its territorial waters, but along much of Africa ’ s east coast. Since 2010, when the first trial of 11 pirates was staged in Victoria, the Seychelles has mounted 66 trials and processed a total of 142 pirates. More than any other country in the region, the Seychelles has besides made the blue economy a focal point of their national scheme, a point underscored by the fact that the Vice President besides serves as the Minister of the Blue Economy.
From March 19–23, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies held the latest in its farseeing serial of maritime security programs, Enhancing Maritime Security, in the Seychelles to see firsthand the country ’ s overture to combatting criminalism on the seas and discussing common challenges and lessons learned. More than 50 maritime security officials from 34 countries and regional organizations attended .
Participants highlighted the respect of a whole-of-Africa nautical dialogue ; the importance of keeping tempo with the dynamic nature of maritime crime beyond piracy ; the challenge of legal complete ( successful prosecution, conviction, and detention ) to deter these crimes ; and the importance of the blue sky economy as an economic growth engine not equitable for littoral states, but landlocked ones a well who must rely on their coastal neighbors for ship and trade.
Relatedly, participants recognized that African states have a challenge with maritime wealth blindness in summation to overall marine sphere awareness but were greatly inspired by Seychellois ’ efforts to adopt advanced approaches on both fronts .
After his keynote address on adjudicating and penalizing maritime crimes, Justice Anthony Fernando, who serves on the Seychelles Court of Appeal, which has presided over 66 maritime cases, led participants on a tour of the chief courthouse and plagiarism court. He was joined by Supreme Court Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey and President of the Court of Appeal Francis MacGregor, who explained how cases are processed through the court system.
Read more: A Man Quotes Maritime Law To Avoid Ticket
program participants besides had the opportunity to visit an iranian dhow captured by the Seychelles Coast Guard in the largest ever drug capture in the state ’ s territorial waters. Officials at the Regional Center for Operations Coordination—an information-sharing union including the Seychelles, Comoros, Réunion ( France ), Madagascar, and Mauritius—explained how cooperative operations and technology have improved the region ’ s ability to track condemnable vessels in the amerind Ocean .
In addition, Philippe Michaud, senior fisheries advisor to the Seychelles ’ vice president, gave a presentation on Securing the Blue Economy. other plan sessions discussed maritime security initiatives around Africa, legal harmonization, and current best practices in prosecuting nautical crimes .
Africa Center Experts
- Ian Ralby, Adjunct Professor of Maritime Law and Security
- Raymond Gilpin, Academic Dean
More on: Maritime Security
