[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 288 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 288

    Supporting enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and 
 encouraging increased cooperation between the United States and West 
 and Central African countries to fight armed robbery at sea, piracy, 
                      and other maritime threats.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 6, 2013

     Mr. Flake (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and 
 encouraging increased cooperation between the United States and West 
 and Central African countries to fight armed robbery at sea, piracy, 
                      and other maritime threats.

Whereas, although the number of armed robbery at sea and piracy attacks 
        worldwide dropped substantially in recent years, such acts in the Gulf 
        of Guinea are increasing, with more than 40 reported through October 
        2013 and many more going unreported;
Whereas the United States imported more than 315,000,000 barrels of oil through 
        the region in 2012, and United States businesses have extensive fixed 
        assets in the region that are important to United States energy 
        security;
Whereas the nature of attacks in the Gulf of Guinea demonstrates an ongoing 
        pattern of cargo thefts and robbery, often occurring in the territorial 
        waters of West and Central African states;
Whereas there are countries in West and Central Africa that are susceptible to 
        acts of armed robbery at sea and piracy that lack adequate law 
        enforcement and naval capabilities to stop or deter such attacks;
Whereas acts of maritime crime raise the costs and risks of trade and commerce 
        in Africa and beyond because the security of vessels, crews, and cargoes 
        cannot be guaranteed;
Whereas shipping insurance premiums increase after such attacks, and in so 
        doing, create disincentives for local, regional, and international 
        investors and companies seeking to do business in the region;
Whereas imports provide indispensable goods and services for the people of West 
        and Central Africa, generate port fees and customs duties for their 
        governments, and are essential in spurring economic growth and 
        development in the region;
Whereas the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa issued by President Barack 
        Obama in June 2012 states, ``It is in the interest of the United States 
        to improve the region's trade competitiveness, encourage the 
        diversification of exports beyond natural resources, and ensure that the 
        benefits from growth are broad-based.'';
Whereas a vibrant trade relationship between Africa and its partners, including 
        the United States, can lead to expanded economic opportunities that can 
        spur competition, raise productivity, and facilitate job creation in the 
        economies of all participating countries;
Whereas the African Union, in collaboration with numerous official and 
        nongovernmental stakeholders, developed the ``2050 Africa's Integrated 
        Maritime Security'' strategy (the 2050 AIM STRATEGY) which seeks ``to 
        address contending, emerging and future maritime challenges and 
        opportunities in Africa . . . with a clear focus on enhanced wealth 
        creation from a sustainable governance of Africa's oceans and seas'';
Whereas the African Union's 2050 AIM STRATEGY seeks to combat ``diverse illegal 
        activities which include . . . arms and drug trafficking, human 
        trafficking and smuggling, piracy, and armed robbery at sea'', among 
        other objectives;
Whereas the June 24-25, 2013, meeting of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security 
        Heads of State Summit held in Cameroon marked the culmination of a 
        United States Government-supported Economic Communities of Central 
        African States (ECCAS) and Economic Community of West African States 
        (ECOWAS)-led initiative and process that produced an approved ECOWAS-
        ECCAS Memorandum of Understanding for regional cooperation, and adopted 
        a Gulf of Guinea Code of Conduct to address maritime crime and a Heads 
        of State Political Declaration;
Whereas ECOWAS and ECCAS states are working to cooperate and build their joint 
        capacities in order to increase maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea 
        and are working to achieve this goal with such partners as the United 
        Nations Offices for West and Central Africa, the Gulf of Guinea 
        Commission, the International Maritime Organization, the Maritime 
        Organization for West and Central Africa, and the African Union;
Whereas the United States Government in the Gulf of Guinea has focused on 
        encouraging multi-layered regional and national ownership in developing 
        sustainable capacity building efforts, including working with partners 
        through the G8++ Friends of Gulf of Guinea Group, to coordinate United 
        States Government maritime security activities in the region;
Whereas the United States Government has assisted the countries of West and 
        Central Africa to enhance regional maritime security through programs 
        such as the ``African Partnership Station'', operated by United States 
        Naval Forces Africa ``to build maritime safety and security by 
        increasing maritime awareness, response capabilities and 
        infrastructure'', and the ``African Maritime Law Enforcement 
        Partnership'', which ``enables African partner nations to build maritime 
        security capacity and improve management of their maritime environment 
        through real world law enforcement operations, and through provision of 
        diverse types of training and equipment assistance and participation in 
        diverse regional maritime military exercises'', as well as by employing 
        analytical tools such as the Maritime Security Sector Reform Guide; and
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 2039, ``expressing its deep 
        concern about the threat that piracy and armed robbery at sea in the 
        Gulf of Guinea pose to international navigation, security and the 
        economic development of states in the region'', was unanimously adopted 
        on February 29, 2012: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns acts of armed robbery at sea, piracy, and 
        other maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea;
            (2) endorses and supports the efforts made by United States 
        Government agencies to assist affected West and Central African 
        countries to build capacity to combat armed robbery at sea, 
        piracy, and other maritime threats, and encourages the 
        President to continue such assistance, as appropriate, within 
        resource constraints; and
            (3) commends the African Union, subregional entities such 
        as the ECOWAS and ECCAS, and the various international agencies 
        that have worked to develop policy and program frameworks for 
        enhancing maritime security in West and Central Africa, and 
        encourages these entities and their member states to continue 
        to build upon these and other efforts to achieve that end.
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