Strategic Implications of Piracy in Benin's Territorial Waters

Abstract

One of the most challenging concerns in the domain of maritime safety and security facing Benin over the last two years is piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The strategic implication of piracy is another way to evaluate the level of future challenges posed by non-state actors to the economic, social and security aspects of a state and its evolving democratic system of governance. Because the seaport of Cotonou is the main source of revenue for the Government, piracy is a critical threat to the existence of the state. Consequently, it is in Benin's strategic interest to fight piracy in order to preserve its survival as a state. In various forums, Benin's Government has repeatedly stressed the need for a regional leadership and has called for international assistance from countries that are able to provide effective responses to piracy. Benin's democratic governance offers an opportunity to use its current leadership as a basis for US continued assistance to help the Government and other member states of the Gulf of Guinea Commission to develop a comprehensive and effective strategic response to fight piracy in the region.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA589324

Entities

People

  • Spero L. Gouchola

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coast Guard
  • Commerce
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Criminals
  • Drug Abuse
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • International Law
  • Maritime Security
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Societies
  • United States
  • United States Africa Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Strategic Security Studies