AU extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security opens in Lomé

The African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security and Development in Africa started Saturday in Togo’s capital Lomé, with a view to adopting a security charter and the creation of the necessary conditions for Africa’s development.

Algeria is represented by Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, accompanied by a delegation including Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra.

The Lomé Summit is set to bring together more than half of the AU Heads of State and Government to examine and adopt the African Union Charter on maritime security, safety and development in Africa.

The Charter aims at preventing and reducing national and international crime notably terrorism, piracy, armed robbery against ships and migrant and human trafficking, and all forms of illegal trafficking at sea like illicit fishing.

The Summit will consider the protection of the general environment and the maritime one and the promotion of cooperation in the field of maritime environment awareness efforts, the prevention by the early alert and the fight against piracy.

In this regard, national, regional and continental institutions will be created.