Cameroon authorities have adopted harsh stance to offences related to piracy, terrorism onboard ships, pollution of waterways and financing acts of piracy, by enacting laws which stipulated life sentences for offenders.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya signed the law late December, making Cameroon the second country in the region to enact a national legal framework on suppression of piracy and maritime offences, after Nigeria had adopted similar laws back in 2019.
The law also stipulates fines ranging from $16,000 to $4 million depending on the crime.
This was in compliance with the UN Security Council which had compelled Gulf of Guinea countries to criminalize piracy and armed robbery at sea, Cameroon has adopted a law on suppression of piracy and general safety of maritime navigation within its waters.
The law is a critical milestone in the Gulf of Guinea’s maritime security, with Cameroon’s national maritime authorities empowered to punish any illegal activities threatening safe navigation within its territorial waters.
Nigeria is leading in criminalising piracy and sea crimes through the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, which other West African countries located along the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) are now using the Act as a model in their Admiralty matters.
Recall that the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, had revealed successes recorded by Nigeria thoroughvictories in the courts as the act has helped reduce piracy to a 27-year low.
While Cameroon’s territorial waters have remained relatively safe, a few incidents of piracy recorded since 2019 prompted the government to take action. The primary goal has been to guarantee security of ships at the Doula anchorage, mainly using local armed guards onboard vessels. The legal framework now in place should act as a credible deterrent to pirate gangs.
Indeed, regional frameworks such as Yaoundé Code of Conduct have been instrumental in curbing piracy. However, a shift to national approach is even more effective.
