Maritime security in West Africa - Strategic challenge beyond coastline
As piracy resurges in the Red Sea and tensions rise in the South China Sea and the Black Sea, maritime security is once again at the centre of global concern. In West Africa, the Gulf of Guinea remains a zone of fragility, where port infrastructures are exposed to new forms of criminality and disruption. Beyond immediate coastal states, this instability threatens landlocked countries dependent on maritime trade, making port security a matter of regional sovereignty.
Recent data from the MICA Centre’s 2024 annual report underscores the persistent risks in the Gulf of Guinea, notably in anchorage areas and poorly secured port approaches. While overall acts of piracy are no longer concentrated in this zone, localised incidents of maritime theft, smuggling, and sabotage have not abated. The geostrategic realignment of global shipping routes, accelerated by hostilities in the Red Sea and the Black Sea, adds further pressure to African corridors, particularly around Douala and Kribi. These ports now serve as critical entry points for trade routes extending deep into Central Africa. The port of Douala alone handles over 70% of trade for Chad and the Central African Republic.
Ensuring its operational continuity is therefore not simply a technical issue but a cornerstone of regional economic access and state resilience.
Ports under pressure, corridors at risk
The security of West African ports is no longer an isolated issue. As geopolitical tensions redirect maritime flows and expose infrastructure to hybrid threats, ports like Douala, Kribi, Cotonou and Abidjan must anticipate a new geography of risk. These infrastructures are not only trade enablers, they are also potential chokepoints. Any disruption can cascade inland, paralysing customs revenues and jeopardising food and fuel supplies in dependent territories.
Nigeria’s role is particularly central in this configuration, as the country remains both a strategic coastal power and a linchpin of regional cooperation. As a signatory of the Monrovia Declaration alongside Ghana, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria has committed to joint patrols and vessel registry harmonisation to curb illegal fishing, trafficking and piracy in its waters and beyond. This renewed maritime coordination enhances not only Nigeria’s own port security, but also the protection of trade corridors serving neighbouring landlocked countries.
The regional security architecture, notably the Yaoundé Process, has encouraged multilateral cooperation between coastal and landlocked states. However, implementation remains uneven, particularly in terms of technological integration and rapid response. The growing involvement of private operators is progressively reshaping this landscape.
A new generation of maritime security actors
Among the companies spearheading this shift, PortSec SA has emerged as a reference point. Active in Cameroon since 2019, the company has supported the transformation of Douala and Kribi into more secure, competitive port hubs. Through the Douala Port Security (DPS) programme, PortSec has rolled out biometric access controls, smart video surveillance, and maritime simulation systems. It has also expanded its security personnel by over 200 agents and introduced aerial surveillance with drones.
The results are tangible. Between 2019 and 2023, incidents of cargo theft in Douala dropped by 35%. Customs flows have become more predictable, and investor confidence has grown, including from regional logistics platforms and agro-industrial operators. PortSec’s work is now seen as an enabler of economic sovereignty, helping ports integrate more fully into the AfCFTA logistics ecosystem.
Securing the sea to stabilise the hinterland
In Central Africa, maritime security is intimately linked to inland development. In a region where the ability to import medical supplies, construction materials or basic goods hinges on the performance of maritime gateways, every security lapse has consequences far beyond the port perimeter.
Landlocked states such as Chad or the Central African Republic, often absent from maritime governance discussions, are in fact structurally dependent on the Gulf of Guinea’s stability. Investment in port security thus becomes a shared responsibility. Several African governments have begun to acknowledge this by supporting corridor-wide initiatives, including cross-border patrols and information-sharing platforms.
This multi-layered approach to maritime security will be critical in the years ahead. With demographic growth and continental trade on the rise, the resilience of ports will determine not only the fluidity of commerce, but also the credibility of Africa’s economic sovereignty project.
