West Africa anti-piracy push faces multiple obstacles

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Maritime Security ◽  
Gulf Of Guinea ◽  
Gulf Of Aden ◽  
Actual Number ◽  
Regional Trade ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Multiple Obstacles

Subject Outlook for maritime security in West Africa. Significance According to International Maritime Bureau (IMB) statistics, reported incidents of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea are declining. From January to September 2015, 24 incidents occurred, against 33 in 2014 and 47 in 2013. However, the IMB acknowledges that the actual number could be much higher, posing significant threats to regional trade, 90% of which is conducted by sea. Impacts China's planned base in Djibouti will help its anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden, while raising concerns on its military aims. The AU maritime security summit in March 2016 will probably produce new anti-piracy commitments, but implementation will lag. Nigeria's planned 'rehabilitation' programmes for former Niger Delta militants are unlikely to dissuade them from illicit activities. Its navy's recent signing of 29 deals with private firms for security services will augment its improved hardware and surveillance capacity.

scholarly journals A Pestle Analysis of Maritime Piracy and Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 472-482
Author(s):  
Dr. Capt. Nana Raymond Lawrence Ofosu-Boateng ◽  
Zhang Jiping
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
International Security ◽  
Maritime Security ◽  
Gulf Of Guinea ◽  
Maritime Piracy ◽  
Business Transaction ◽  
Political Economic

The Gulf of Guinea is a region that that draws a lot of interest to many nations in Latin America, Europe and West Africa. It is because these countries depend on this region for conducting their business. Most of the countries export their products and import other goods through the Atlantic Ocean (Ali, 2017). The discovery of oil in Nigeria led to increased business transaction in this region and thus, the development of the economy. However, it also led to the rise of piracy, which affected the maritime security of the area. Many ships and other sea vessels have been affected by the acts of pirates who attack the ships and steal the content being transported. Sometimes they could also hijack these vessels and demand for ransom for them to be released. The ability to counterattack the pirates and robberies in this region is affected by factors which range from political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental. Matters such weak governments and poor implementation of the laws and conventions make the countries in the region to lack ability to tackle pirates in the sea and thus have to rely on the international security agencies like Interpol policing and other forces to help in providing security in the sea (Hasan, & Hassan, 2016). Increase in population, lack of unemployment, and poverty are also some of the things which makes many youths in the region to participate in these criminal activities because they lack something constructive, which can generate income.

Yemen conflict carries risks for global shipping

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
World Trade ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Suez Canal ◽  
Maritime Security ◽  
Gulf Of Aden ◽  
Port City ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Maritime Domain Awareness

Significance Instability has worsened significantly in Yemen since the Huthi 'coup' against President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi in January. His government has been forced into exile; the Huthis have fought pitched battles with local opponents for control of the southern port city of Aden; Saudi Arabia has led an intensive campaign of airstrikes and imposed a naval blockade of major seaports; and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has expanded in the south east. Located next to some of the world's most important shipping routes, Yemen's crisis could have significant ramifications on regional maritime security and world trade. Impacts Maritime domain awareness in the Gulf of Aden and southern stretches of the Red Sea could be significantly reduced. Risk of accidents between Iranian and Saudi coalition vessels has increased, but a more serious confrontation is unlikely. US, European and regional navies will mobilise to protect the viability of the Suez Canal maritime corridor.

scholarly journals Understanding the variability of the rainfall dipole in West Africa using the EC-Earth last millennium simulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiong Zhang ◽  
Ellen Berntell ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Last Millennium ◽  
Tropical Atlantic ◽  
Gulf Of Guinea ◽  
Dipole Pattern ◽  
Sahel Region ◽  
Heat Low

AbstractThere is a well-known mode of rainfall variability associating opposite hydrological conditions over the Sahel region and the Gulf of Guinea, forming a dipole pattern. Previous meteorological observations show that the dipole pattern varies at interannual timescales. Using an EC-Earth climate model simulation for last millennium (850–1850 CE), we investigate the rainfall variability in West Africa over longer timescales. The 1000-year-long simulation data show that this rainfall dipole presents at decadal to multidecadal and centennial variability and long-term trend. Using the singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis, we identified that the rainfall dipole present in the first SVD mode with 60% explained variance and associated with the variabilities in tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST). The second SVD mode shows a monopole rainfall variability pattern centred over the Sahel, associated with the extra-tropical Atlantic SST variability. We conclude that the rainfall dipole-like pattern is a natural variability mode originated from the local ocean–atmosphere-land coupling in the tropical Atlantic basin. The warm SST anomalies in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean favour an anomalous low pressure at the tropics. This low pressure weakens the meridional pressure gradient between the Saharan Heat Low and the tropical Atlantic. It leads to anomalous northeasterly, reduces the southwesterly moisture flux into the Sahel and confines the Gulf of Guinea's moisture convergence. The influence from extra-tropical climate variability, such as Atlantic multidecadal oscillation, tends to modify the rainfall dipole pattern to a monopole pattern from the Gulf of Guinea to Sahara through influencing the Sahara heat low. External forcing—such as orbital forcing, solar radiation, volcanic and land-use—can amplify/dampen the dipole mode through thermal forcing and atmosphere dynamical feedback.

Jordan’s king will face rising popular pressures

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Aid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
House Arrest ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Official Position ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
The Government ◽  
Crown Prince ◽  
Video Material

Significance Former Crown Prince Hamzah was placed under house arrest on April 3, as 20 other people were detained. His release of audio and video material that undermined the official position embarrassed the government, and the recent public reconciliation leaves his status unclear. Impacts Despite the aspersions cast on Riyadh, Gulf states will send further financial aid to boost stability and compete for influence. Another government reshuffle and further changes within the security services are likely. Relations between Abdullah and Hamzah will remain troubled, as the latter seeks to remain relevant in case an opportunity presents itself.

scholarly journals Two concepts of community in the Niger Delta

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor ◽  
Tim Gray ◽  
Selina Stead
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Place ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Strong Sense ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Solid Foundation ◽  
Attachment To Place ◽  
Poor Communities

Purpose This paper aims to understand what two apparently contrasting concepts of communality and place attachment say about the quality of community life in the Niger Delta. Design/methodology/approach The research for this paper relied on extensive qualitative and quantitative data: qualitative data were collected from five oil-rich and three oil-poor communities across Ogoniland, while quantitative data were collected from four of these communities. Thematic content analysis was used to interpret the qualitative data, while the quantitative data were analysed through Excel. Findings Most participants from both oil-rich and oil-poor communities strongly reject a social sense of communality and strongly endorse a geographical sense of place. Practical implications The wider implication of this finding is that proponents of community development (CD) have a choice between either the cynical option of noting that Ogoni’s strong sense of place means that they will tolerate limited CD, or the noble option of noting that Ogoni’s strong sense of place is a solid foundation on which to build sustainable CD by empowering citizens to create their own future. Originality/value The originality of this study is twofold. First, it shows the complexity of people’s sense of community encompassing widely different and possibly contradictory elements. Second, it reveals the strength and persistence of people’s attachment to place despite its physical shortcomings.

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