Africa Unites to Secure Its Seas: A Call to Action for Continental Maritime Security

By Andrew Mwangura

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

For too long, Africa’s vast maritime domain—encompassing over 30,000 kilometers of coastline and some of the world’s most resource-rich waters—has been treated as an open frontier for exploitation. 

Illegal fishing fleets strip our waters bare. Pirates terrorize our shipping lanes. Oil thieves siphon billions in resources that rightfully belong to African nations. Human traffickers turn our seas into corridors of misery.

The cost is staggering in billions of dollars lost annually, countless lives destroyed, and the systematic undermining of Africa’s maritime sovereignty.

Yet despite these mounting challenges, the continent’s response has remained fragmented, with individual nations struggling to patrol waters that criminals traverse with impunity across borders.

This must end. Now.

Vision for African Maritime Sovereignty

Deacon Dr. Lloyd D. Austin 33°, through his proposal for the African Union Maritime Force (AUMF), has articulated what many have long recognized, but few have dared to champion Africa needs with a unified, continent-wide approach to maritime security.

This is not merely another policy proposal gathering dust in bureaucratic corridors—it is a fully actionable blueprint for reclaiming African waters under African command.

The AUMF represents a paradigm shift from dependence on external maritime security arrangements to genuine African leadership in protecting African interests. 

Through Regional Maritime Operational Centers (RMOCs) and coordinated naval assets, this initiative would establish the infrastructure necessary to defend Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zones and unlock the full potential of the continent’s Blue Economy.

Beyond Security

The implications extend far beyond security. Africa’s maritime domain holds immense economic potential—from fisheries that could feed the continent to offshore energy resources that could power its development. 

Yet this potential remains largely untapped due to the very security challenges the AUMF is designed to address.

Consider the numbers: illegal fishing alone costs African nations an estimated $11 billion annually. Oil theft in the Gulf of Guinea represents hundreds of millions in lost revenue. 

These are not abstract losses—they represent hospitals that cannot be built, schools that remain unfunded, and communities that remain trapped in poverty while their resources are pillaged.

The AUMF offers a path to transform these losses into gains, creating not just security but economic opportunity. Maritime enforcement generates revenue through licensing, fines, and asset recovery. 

Protected fishing grounds support sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities. Secure shipping lanes attract legitimate maritime commerce and investment.

Urgency

Dr. Austin’s call for immediate action resonates with a harsh reality: every day of delay emboldens those who exploit African waters. Criminal networks adapt quickly, but institutional responses often lag by years or decades.

The window for establishing effective maritime governance is closing as illegal actors become more entrenched and sophisticated.

The African Union possesses the institutional framework and diplomatic mandate to coordinate such an initiative. What has been missing is the political will and financial commitment to transform mandate into reality.

The AUMF proposal provides both the roadmap and the rallying cry needed to bridge this gap.

Call for Unity and Investment

The success of the AUMF depends on unprecedented cooperation across multiple levels. African heads of state must recognize that maritime security is not a luxury but a necessity for continental development. The fragmented approach of the past has failed; unity of purpose and action is the only path forward.

International partners—particularly the European Union and World Bank—have both strategic and moral reasons to support this initiative. A secure and prosperous Africa benefits global stability and trade. 

Moreover, supporting African-led solutions aligns with principles of sovereignty and self-determination that should guide international development cooperation.

Private sector engagement is equally crucial. Maritime security creates the stable environment necessary for legitimate business operations, while the governance structures established through the AUMF can provide the regulatory framework needed for sustainable investment in Africa’s Blue Economy.

From Vision to Reality

The AUMF is not a distant aspiration but an immediate possibility. The proposal exists. The institutional mechanisms are in place. The economic case is compelling. What remains is the political courage to act and the financial commitment to invest in Africa’s maritime future.

This is Africa’s moment to chart its own course on the high seas. The choice is clear: continue to accept the systematic exploitation of African waters, or unite behind a vision of maritime sovereignty that puts African interests first.

The AUMF represents more than a security initiative—it is a declaration of African agency in shaping the continent’s destiny. It is time for leaders across Africa and beyond to answer this call with the urgency and commitment it deserves.

Africa’s seas await protection. Africa’s potential awaits unleashing. The African Union Maritime Force awaits approval.

The time for action is now.

The writer is a Maritime Affairs Analyst and Maritime Policy Advocate.