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AU heads of state convene in Lome on maritime security

Xinhua, October 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) opened Saturday in Lome, capital of Togo, with the adoption of a landmark charter on maritime safety, security and development in Africa expected later the same day.

"The title of the draft Charter under review only highlights the obvious fact that the development of the continent through the safety and security of the African maritime space," said AU chairman Idriss Deby, Chad's President, in his opening remarks.

Deby said that this Charter is a legal instrument that facilitates the pooling of resources and the establishment of a unified framework against all threats to maritime space.

The adoption of the Charter is a valid response to intensifying piracy acts in Aden and golf Guinea, which have seriously hurt the freedom of navigation beyond Africa as well as stability and security of the affected coastal states.

"For these reasons, we should not, under any circumstances, give up our maritime space to terrorists, bandits and other criminals traffickers making this space a place of predation and insecurity," he stressed.

"The Charter will secure the maritime space for the common good of African people," AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said in her opening speech.

"It will boost Africa's self-management of the maritime domain," she added. Endit