Gulf of Guinea: trafficking on the rise, acts of piracy on the decline

The French patrol boat Commander Birot, here in the Gulf of Guinea, February 20, 2014. AFP / CHRIS STEIN

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2 min

From Senegal to Angola, the Gulf of Guinea brings together 19 countries and concentrates nearly 10% of world hydrocarbon production.

Nearly 400 merchant ships sail in the area daily.

Interests which arouse envy, in particular from pirates, and which lead to a strong military mobilization to secure this immense space.

This is the case for France, among others.

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Gone are the days when the French navy patrolled alone.

China, Russia, the United States, and more recently Brazil, Denmark and the locals:

the Gulf of Guinea is a strategic sector

.

And, for the first time in five years, the number of acts of piracy has been halved in 2021, as Admiral Lebas, prefect of the Atlantic explains:

“ 

We will be careful.

Nevertheless, we are already observing a real inflection with 42 acts of piracy since the start of the year.

It is less than before.

56 hostages were released.

 "

Decline in piracy therefore, but on the other hand a sharp increase in illegal fishing, arms trafficking to Europe but also to Africa.

And above all, drug trafficking is increasing, with an increase in seizures: cannabis from Morocco, cocaine from South America.

Two tonnes were recently seized off Senegal, and

six tonnes were seized in the spring

off Côte d'Ivoire.

“ 

This is the French record in the area.

Six tons is monstrous.

It's pure cocaine.

With that, we have 18 tons of cocaine

 ”, comments Admiral Lebas.

Asked about possible links between drug traffickers and armed groups in the Sahel, the admiral was very clear: “ 

What we know, for the moment, is that there is no link between the

terrorist

Islamic and what is happening along the coast.

For now, these are still two separate topics.

 "

The increase in military ships from African countries should, in any case, strengthen controls in the Gulf of Guinea.

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  • Oceans

  • Defense

  • Drug

  • Piracy