With over 80% of global trade transported by sea, African states recognize the critical importance of their oceans, seas, and inland waters for achieving and maintaining security, stable governance, and economic growth. Increasingly, external actors and non-state groups have sought to exploit the vulnerability of African waters, exacerbating existing security challenges, to include the trafficking of people, weapons, and narcotics. More dangerous threats include attacks on shipping and maritime infrastructure, piracy, armed robbery at sea, and the use of the maritime domain by insurgents and terrorist groups.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies’ Maritime Security, Strategy Development, Governance, and Blue Economy initiatives examine the underlying threats and opportunities facing nations and regional organizations in Africa’s maritime domain. Previously, the Africa Center has organized high-level workshops, bilateral strategy development sessions, and leveraged regional partnerships to assist in the development and strengthening of maritime mechanisms such as the Yaoundé Code of Conduct (YCoC), the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA), and the Five Plus Five (Five + Five) Dialogue to enhance burden sharing and support the operational independence of African coastal defense forces. The Africa Center’s maritime security initiatives seek to:
- Advance the development of regional and national maritime security strategies.
- Strengthen the implementation of regional maritime security mechanisms, with emphasis on enhancing operational coordination, information sharing, and analysis.
- Conduct assessments that promote a whole-of-government approach to the national maritime domain.
- Foster relationships with African partners and practitioner subject matter experts to provide recommendations for more effective regional and multilateral partnerships.
- Conduct research and produce publications to inform and influence Africa’s maritime security strategies and priorities, including maritime domain awareness (MDA) for our constituents.
Maritime Cooperation and Coordination in The Western Indian Ocean
Academic Program
April 14, 2026 to April 17, 2026
Western Indian Ocean Maritime Security Seminar
Academic Program
February 24, 2025 to February 28, 2025
MSS: Yaoundé Code of Conduct Zones A & D Workshop
Academic Program
December 10, 2024 to December 13, 2024
MSS: Shared Challenges and Responses in the Indian Ocean
Academic Program
January 22, 2024 to January 25, 2024
Maritime Security Awareness in Africa: Elevating Youth Voices
Virtual Academic Program
August 10, 2023 to August 10, 2023
Enhancing Maritime Safety and Security in Africa:
Whole-of-Africa Maritime Dialogue 2021
Virtual Roundtable
July 27, 2021 to July 28, 2021
Enhancing Maritime Security in Africa: Whole-of-Africa Maritime Dialogue 2019
Seminar
May 13, 2019 to May 17, 2019
Cutlass Express 2019 Senior Leaders Seminar
Seminar
February 4, 2019 to February 6, 2019
Enhancing Maritime Security in Africa
Seminar
March 19, 2018 to March 23, 2018
2017 MSS Inter-Regional Cooperation Centers
Seminar
July 11, 2017 to July 14, 2017