Monrovia – A major signing Ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which is expected to pave the way for the formal introduction of specialized boats in the Coast Guard System to boost Liberia’s maritime program through funding from the European Union (EU), takes place Monday, June 28, 2022, at the Offices of the EU Delegation to Liberia on Sékou Touré Avenue in Monrovia.
The MOU, which is expected to be unanimously signed by the Government of Liberia, the European Union (EU), and the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), will lead to providing the Liberia Coast Guard with at least two Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), according to a press statement issued by the EU and SWAIMS
With a budget of 28 million Euros (about 29.5 million United States Dollars), SWAIMS which is the largest initiative on maritime security in the ECOWAS region is providing material support to all the twelve (12) coastal member states of ECOWAS, as well as training and legal strengthening, to all fifteen (15) ECOWAS Member States (including the three landlocked Countries) including Mauritania.
The signing and financial support are part of the EU’s effort in improving the region’s maritime security which requires upgrading as the availability of the boats are first in the Country’s history, as observed by those familiar with the issue, before the signing ceremony.
Defense Minister, Major General Daniel Ziankahn, and the Head of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, will lead activities marking the signing ceremony.
For the past four years, ECOWAS has been working towards strengthening the maritime security of its member states through SWAIMS and the signing of the MoU is part of the implementation of the Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS), which is a project of ECOWAS.
As Liberia becomes the first ECOWAS Country to sign the facilitative MoU, and is therefore first in line for the delivery of the boats as of next year, the EU support for SWAIMS implementation will become more relevant in responding to its vast maritime program, especially after years of civil conflict and the ravaging of the Country’s infrastructure by the Ebola crisis.
The largest Support to the West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) Project component is being implemented by Camões IP of Portugal.
Since the end of the cold war, Europe has become Africa’s principal trading partner and primary investor, and the European Union remains Africa’s largest donor as a global organization.