By: Staff Reporter | www.thepointafricanews.com | Addis Ababa
The African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, has proposed the organization of a pan-African naval exercise in 2027, aimed at strengthening cooperation, coordination, and interoperability among African navies.
Ambassador Adeoye made the proposal while addressing African peace and security stakeholders, underscoring the growing importance of maritime security to the continent’s economic stability and collective security.
According to the AU Commissioner, the proposed naval exercise would provide a platform for African states to jointly address shared maritime challenges, including piracy, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, maritime trafficking, and threats to critical sea lanes.
Africa’s maritime domain includes some of the world’s most strategically important waters, such as the Gulf of Guinea, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean coastline, and the Indian Ocean corridor. These regions support vital trade routes, offshore energy infrastructure, and coastal livelihoods, but have also experienced persistent security threats.
Ambassador Adeoye noted that maritime insecurity continues to impose economic and security costs on African states, often exceeding the capacity of individual countries to respond effectively.
The proposed exercise, he said, is intended to enhance information-sharing, joint operational planning, and coordinated response capabilities among African navies.
The proposal aligns with existing African Union instruments, including the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS 2050), which calls for collective action to secure Africa’s maritime domain.
AU officials say the initiative would complement ongoing regional maritime efforts led by regional economic communities and mechanisms such as ECOWAS, ECCAS, SADC, and IGAD, rather than replace them.
Ambassador Adeoye emphasized the importance of African-led security solutions, noting that maritime threats often transcend national boundaries and require coordinated continental responses.
While no operational details, host country, or participating force structure have yet been announced, the proposal signals the AU’s intent to deepen practical cooperation among member states in the maritime domain.
According to AU officials, further consultations with member states, regional bodies, and relevant maritime security partners are expected before the proposal is formalized. Any final decision on the exercise would be subject to approval through established African Union processes.
If adopted, the 2027 naval exercise would represent one of the most extensive continent-wide maritime cooperation initiatives undertaken under AU auspices.
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