Following operations "Safe Domain I" in November 2021 and "Safe Domain II" in September 2023, ECOWAS and its Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) for Zone E, which includes Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, are organizing Operation Safe Domain III. This major maritime initiative aims to enhance safety on the high seas from August 5 to 9, 2024.
The primary objective of this inter-state operation is to combine efforts and resources to address maritime security challenges. It encompasses key activities such as research, information exchange, maritime and aerial surveillance, and intervention by operational units when necessary.
Operation Safe Domain III will last five days. It involves patrolling and securing the maritime area of Zone E, comprising Togo, Nigeria, and Benin. The operation is part of a code of conduct related to preventing and repressing acts of piracy, armed robbery at sea, and illegal maritime activities in the economic zone. The ceremony brings together political figures and civil authorities from various national administrations of the three countries in Zone E.
During the opening ceremony, Commodore Aniedi Aniedu Iboki, Director CMMC Zone E noted that given the transnational challenges faced by the ECOWAS maritime domain in terms of maritime security affecting economic development and livelihoods of local communities, the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government adopted a robust ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy (EIMS) in March 2014. He thanked various partners such as the European Union, UNODC, the United States, Denmark, Germany, and France for their support in securing the ECOWAS maritime domain and encouraged them to continue these efforts.
In his speech, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission stressed that the current 4 X 4 strategic objectives of ECOWAS—including objective one (strengthening regional peace and security)—call for full operationalization of the ECOWAS maritime security architecture. Thus, he stated that the theme of Exercise 2024 “Protecting the blue economy of ECOWAS Zone E through collaboration on maritime security” is appropriate and aligns with the Community’s vision. He further emphasized that oceans are a major economic and environmental resource where approximately 90% of international trade is conducted. He thanked development partners including the European Union through the GoGIN (Gulf of Guinea Inter-Regional Network) project implemented by Expertise France for their efforts to combat maritime insecurity.
Representing Mr. Fortunet Alain NOUATIN, Minister Delegate in charge of Defence of the Republic of Benin Brigadier General Abdul-Baki Sanni Bachabi Chief-of-Staff welcomed all participants in Benin. He praised their commitment to organizing this operation while thanking Zone E CMMC along with all partners involved in making this third Zone E maritime patrol operation known as ‘Safe Domain III’ successful.
These joint maritime patrols concluding on Friday August 9 mark ECOWAS’s ongoing efforts towards strengthening regional maritime security.
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