Maritime piracy threat to peace, stability for states: Togo PM

Togolese Prime Minister Komi Selom Klassou said Monday that maritime piracy was "a major threat to peace and stability for states and was also a hindrance to economic development."

This threat is complex and difficult to overcome, the Togolese PM said while opening a maritime conference of the National Organization charged with State Action in Sea (ONAEM).

According to the prime minister, the Gulf of Guinea which is rich in resources such as fish and oil, and is a geostrategic zone that has become a hub for international trade, has unfortunately become a center for pirate activities and all manner of criminal acts.

The 2014 report by the International Maritime Organization on the frequency of piracy activities in Africa, indicated there was a growing number of piracy acts in the Gulf of Guinea more than the Gulf of Aden.

Due to this sad reality, the Togolese PM said "there is need to act firmly if we do not want to reduce the number of ships in our maritime space, and by extension if we do not want to compromise our development and that of countries in our continent's hinterland."

"We must also develop an appropriate legal framework to fight against maritime piracy," Klassou said.

The two day conference will also be used as a platform for reinforcing capacities of stakeholders such as judges, police officers, soldiers and inspectors of maritime work who are involved in ensuring respect for maritime laws. Endit