Luanda – The secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Esmeralda Mendonça, stressed Tuesday, in Luanda, that Angola defends maritime security and protection as fundamental pillars for sustainable development of the African continent.
The diplomat who was speaking in the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on Maritime Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, which takes place in hybrid format, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, considered that 39 of the 55 African countries are riparian or insular.
On the occasion, Esmeralda Mendonça said that the African maritime domain should ensure that all African nations have the opportunity to stimulate socio-economic growth and adequate maritime route for security and prosperity.
She recalled that over 90% of African imports and exports are done by sea, a percentage that tends to grow and justifies the importance of the African maritime domain to promote the Blue Economy and full development of the continent.
The meeting recorded the interventions of the Ambassadors Daniel Owassa, President of African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), Florentina Adenike Ukonga, Executive Secretary of Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), in addition to ministers of the State Members of Gulf of Guinea Commission, among other officials.
However, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Maritime Organization of West and Central (MOWCA) are also attending the meeting.
