African initiative

A regional workshop organized by International Maritime Organization (IMO), in co-operation with the government of Angola, was held in Luanda, Angola, to discuss the implementation of the Code of Conduct concerning the repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa, through the establishment of the Inter-regional Co-ordination Centre (ICC), to be based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The ICC is expected to play a strategic role in enhancing maritime security in west Africa, where IMO is also targeting capacity-building efforts. The function of the ICC is to put in place a “permanent mechanism of national points of contact to foster co-operation and avoid duplication of efforts” amongst the multitude of donors and initiatives.