The Case for an African Union Navy: Securing Africa’s Maritime Future
By Andrew Mwangura
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Africa’s vast coastline, stretching over 18,950 miles, represents both tremendous opportunity and significant vulnerability.
As global powers increasingly turn their attention to Africa’s maritime resources and strategic waterways, the absence of a cohesive naval strategy for the continent has become a glaring security gap.
The time has come for the African Union to establish a unified naval force—an AU Navy—that can protect the continent’s maritime interests and contribute to regional stability.
Maritime Vulnerabilities
According to the International Maritime Bureau, the Gulf of Guinea consistently ranks among the world’s most dangerous waters for piracy and armed robbery.
In 2023 alone, over 90 percent of global maritime kidnappings occurred in West African waters.
Meanwhile, illegal fishing costs West African nations approximately $2.3 billion annually while illegal dumping of toxic waste continues to threaten coastal ecosystems.
These challenges exist against a backdrop of increasing foreign military presence in African waters.
China’s naval base in Djibouti, French installations across West Africa, and expanded Russian maritime activities signal a new scramble for Africa—this time focused on its blue economy and sea lanes.
Individual African nations have struggled to address these complex maritime threats.
Even regional powers like South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt maintain naval forces primarily focused on their territorial waters, lacking the capability to project power across the continent’s maritime domain.
Economic Imperatives
The case for an AU Navy extends well beyond traditional security concerns.
Africa’s blue economy —including fishing, offshore oil and gas, maritime transport, and tourism — represents a largely untapped resource with the potential to drive economic transformation across the continent.
The African Union’s Agenda 2063 explicitly recognizes the blue economy as a major contributor to continental transformation and growth.
Yet, the absence of a comprehensive maritime security strategy undermines these economic aspirations.
An AU Navy would not only secure maritime trade routes but also provide the security framework necessary for sustainable exploitation of maritime resources.
By coordinating maritime patrol and surveillance operations, the force could significantly reduce illegal fishing and environmental crimes, preserving these resources for legitimate African enterprises.
Framework for Implementation
Establishing an African Union Navy would not require starting from scratch. Building upon existing regional maritime security frameworks—such as those developed by ECOWAS, SADC, and the East African Community—would provide a foundation for this continental force.
The AU Navy could operate on a tiered structure such as a standing naval command headquartered at the African Union, responsible for strategic planning and coordination; regional fleet commands aligned with Africa’s existing regional economic communities, and specialized units focused on counter-piracy, fisheries protection, and environmental monitoring.
Funding such an initiative would undoubtedly present challenges, but creative approaches could be explored.
A dedicated percentage of maritime revenue—from port fees, fishing licenses, and offshore resource extraction—could be allocated to sustain the force.
Additionally, public-private partnerships with African and international shipping companies that benefit from secure sea lanes could provide supplementary funding.
Potential Concerns
Critics may argue that an AU Navy would duplicate existing national naval forces or infringe upon national sovereignty. However, the force should be conceptualized as complementary to national assets—focusing on transnational threats while respecting sovereign maritime boundaries.
Others might question whether military solutions are appropriate for what are fundamentally economic and governance challenges.
This perspective overlooks the reality that sustainable economic development in Africa’s maritime domain cannot occur without basic security.
An AU Navy would provide the security foundation upon which better governance and economic models could be built.
Call to Action
The establishment of an African Union Navy represents not just a security imperative but a declaration of Africa’s commitment to controlling its maritime destiny.
For too long, African nations have allowed external powers to define the security architecture of their waters.
An AU Navy would signal Africa’s determination to secure its own maritime interests while contributing to global maritime security.
The challenges are substantial, but the potential benefits—enhanced maritime security, sustainable resource management, and economic growth—far outweigh the costs.
As the African Continental Free Trade Area takes shape, establishing secure maritime corridors becomes even more critical to realizing continental economic integration.
African leaders must demonstrate the political will to move beyond rhetoric to concrete action.
The first step should be convening a dedicated AU summit on maritime security, with the specific goal of developing an implementation roadmap for an African Union Navy.
The waters surrounding Africa hold tremendous promise for the continent’s future. It is time for Africa to secure these waters with a naval force that reflects the continent’s growing confidence and aspirations. The security of Africa’s blue economy depends on it.
Andrew Mwangura is a maritime security analyst specializing in African maritime affairs.
