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Inaugural Conference on Maritime Security Held in South Africa

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091015-26
Release Date: 10/15/2009 9:14:00 PM

By Lt. James Stockman, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe -U.S. Naval Forces Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet public Affairs

CAPTE TOWN, South Africa (NNS) -- Maritime Security Africa 2009, the inaugural conference on maritime security, was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, Oct. 13.

The conference examined the maritime surveillance, safety and security issues from a pan-African perspective. The two-day conference brought all parties – Navy, gendarmerie, international relations experts, Foreign Service officials, diplomats, other government bodies, international organizations, vendors and academics – involved in maritime security together, to share knowledge and discuss the latest developments.

Vice Adm. Johannes Mudimu, South African Navy chief, gave the opening address and encouraged all participants to learn from each another, network with their colleagues and peers, and take advantage of the half-day visit to the South African Fleet and Naval Base in Simon's Town.

Vice Adm. Robert T. Moeller, U.S. Africa Command deputy to the commander for military operations, also addressed the conference and discussed maritime security capacity building in West Africa with more than 150 top-level maritime professionals from all over the African continent, including Brig. Gen. Tsoku Khumalo, director, Air Transportation and Maritime Services, South African Air Force; Capt. Frank Rooyen, security fellow, Emerging Powers, South African Institute of International Affairs; Capt. Karl Otto, executive head, Center for Sea Watch and Response, South Africa; and Dr. Francois Vrey, subject chair, Military Strategy, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University.

"The establishment of U.S. Africa Command was a clear recognition of the strategic importance of Africa," said Moeller. "Essential to our mission statement is sustained security engagement."

He added that the challenges and threats facing Africa offer opportunities for to work collectively to provide a safe maritime environment.

"Our desire is to work with as many countries and organizations as possible to foster maritime safety and security," stated Moeller. "We want to ensure we understand the needs, priorities and desires of our African partners. Our goal is to assist our African partners to develop the capabilities to patrol their own waters."

U.S. Africa Command, one of six of the U.S. Department of Defense's regional military headquarters, has administrative responsibility for U.S. military support to U.S. government policy in Africa, to include military-to-military relationships with 53 African nations.