The Government of Liberia and the Camoes- Portuguese Institute for Cooperation and Language I.P. have entered a Memorandum of Understanding geared towards setting partners’ responsibilities for delivery in the Maritime sector.
The European Union to Liberia hosted the signing ceremony of the MoU in the context of the EU-funded regional program with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS).
The agreement sets partners’ responsibilities for the use of the two semi-rigid boats and the forensic equipment as well as the training of trainers and support for the training of the garrisons.
The MoU entered between the Minister of National Defense, Major General Daniel D. Ziankahn (Retired), and the president of the Camoes I.P., Ambassador Joao Ribeiro de Almeida, took place at the offices of the European Union via videoconference from the headquarters of Camões I.P., Lisbon, on Monday, June 27.
Speaking during the virtual signing ceremony, the Deputy National Authorizing Officer, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Martus Bangalu said, “We are delighted to be selected as a part of nations benefiting from the EU financial support of 28 million Euros for SWAIMS’ project which aims at improving maritime security and safety as well as strengthening the legal, governance and law-enforcement frameworks to better support maritime security across the region.
Major General Ziankahn stated, “There have been numerous instances of illegal activities in the Gulf of Guinea, and the provision of these inflatable boats, serving as a combat multiplier, will add to our own capabilities to address these illegal activities.”
“We are going to honor our side of the MoU by providing operational security for our counterpart that will carry out the Training of Trainers program and ensure through the MFDP that the maintenance of the equipment and boats is very paramount, addressing long-term liabilities,” the Defense Minister stated further.
ECOWAS, Liberia Office representative, Irene Wallace said, “The Liberian authorities acknowledge and are pleased with the commitment demonstrated by the ECOWAS Commission and the European Union to the improvement of national maritime security through the SWAIMS’ project.”
For the past four years, ECOWAS has been working towards strengthening the maritime security of its member states through the EU-funded Support for SWAIMS program.
With a budget of 28 million EURO (close to 30 million USD), SWAIMS is the largest initiative on maritime security in the ECOWAS region.
The program provides material support to the 12 ECOWAS coastal member states, as well as training and legal strengthening to all 15 ECOWAS member states (including the three landlocked countries) plus Mauritania.
Under the largest SWAIMS component, implemented by the Camoes I.P., the capacities of the Liberian Coast Guard and related entities, to carry out patrolling and evidence collection at sea, will be strengthened with the supply of rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBS) and relevant training of its personnel.
Meanwhile, the National Coast Guard is to receive two specialized boats to enhance its maritime security through the ECOWAS SWAIMS project, financed by the European Union next year.
