Naval chiefs and coast guard officials from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone met in Abidjan on October 21–22 to strengthen regional cooperation against maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.

The meeting brings together representatives of the five countries to improve coordination between maritime security forces, strengthen intelligence sharing and assess joint operations aimed at protecting regional waters.

The Gulf of Guinea is a major maritime corridor for trade, shipping and fishing, but it faces persistent security challenges, including piracy, illegal fishing, drug trafficking and other illicit activities at sea.

The discussions are taking place under the regional maritime cooperation framework known as Zone F, which brings together the five countries to coordinate responses to maritime crime and improve operational cooperation.

Participants are also reviewing the fourth edition of the joint maritime patrol operation Anouanzê and examining operational priorities for 2026. Joint patrols and the exchange of maritime intelligence are intended to help authorities detect suspicious activity and respond more effectively to incidents at sea.

The meeting comes amid broader efforts by West African coastal states to strengthen maritime security through regional coordination rather than relying solely on individual national forces.

Securing the Gulf of Guinea is important for the region’s ports, fishing communities and commercial shipping routes. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives will depend on sustained cooperation, adequate resources and the ability of participating countries to translate agreements into coordinated operations.

The two-day meeting is scheduled to conclude on October 22, with maritime security priorities and cooperation between the five countries at the centre of discussions.