The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) recently convened with the International Coordination Centre (ICC) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The meeting, held from February 18 to 20, focused on the transition of the Yaoundé Regional Architecture Information System (YARIS) to a new maritime information management system known as 'Yaoundé Architecture'. This initiative is supported by Expertise France and financed through the European Union's GoGIN II project.
The primary objective was to review and approve plans for transferring YARIS to this new architecture while ensuring sustainable funding post-GoGIN II. Attendees included maritime experts from Gulf of Guinea countries, regional and international institutions, representatives from Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres (MMCCs), and development partners like the European Union.
Representatives from Expertise France emphasized maintaining YARIS beyond its current project phase. Mr. Sam Megwa, EU GoGIN II Strategic Director, alongside Ms. Giudicelli Anne, Head of Global Threats at Expertise France, highlighted efforts for a successful system transfer.
Ms. Martina Borovac Pe-Carevic represented Ms. Francesca Di Mauro from the European Union Delegation to Côte d’Ivoire at the event. She reaffirmed EU support for regional maritime safety solutions like YARIS which connects over 160 centres across 19 nations.
Mr. Abroulaye Fofana spoke on behalf of Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Defence about YARIS' strategic importance in empowering states and enhancing Gulf of Guinea maritime safety.
Dieng Abdourahmane, representing ECOWAS Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah, acknowledged EU and Expertise France contributions under GoGIN II and stressed sustaining YARIS during its transition to beneficiary centres.
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