1. The blue economy is a concept that promotes the sustainable management of aquatic resources for economic and social development. It is part of an international legal and institutional dynamic that, dating back to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), has become a central part of the global development narrative with the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015.
2. Following this momentum, the African Union (AU) adopted the African Integrated Strategy for Seas and Oceans (AIM 2050 Strategy) as part of its Agenda 2063, as well as an action plan for its implementation.
3. These frameworks highlight the potential of oceans to stimulate environmentally friendly economic growth, placing sustainability at the heart of global economic policies. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 66/228, following Rio+20, encourages countries to develop national and regional strategies for the sustainable use of marine resources to enhance economic growth, social inclusion, and livelihoods while preserving the sustainability of oceans and coasts.
4. SDG 14, entitled "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development," emphasizes the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, complementing SDGs 1, 8, and 5.
5. In the same vein, the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica from June 8 to 13, 2025, will provide further guidance on the way forward for advancing SDG 14.
6. In Africa, thirty-eight of the 55 countries are coastal states. With over 90% of trade conducted by sea, the continent is home to several strategic trade corridors, which contribute to its global strategic importance.
7. In the African context, the blue economy encompasses the sustainable use and conservation of aquatic resources in both marine and freshwater environments, namely oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, aquifers, coasts, and shorelines. Activities directly or indirectly related to the blue economy range from fisheries and aquaculture to tourism, transportation, shipbuilding, energy, and bioprospecting.
8. Aware of the continent's vast aquatic potential, the African Union considers Africa's oceans and seas to be the "new frontier of African renaissance." In its Agenda 2063, the continental organization makes the blue economy a priority for building "an Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development." To this end, the AU adopted the AIM 2050 strategy and the African Blue Economy Strategy in 2019.
9. Beyond the AU's initiatives, it is important to note that there are several other subregional dynamics and alliances related to the blue economy, including the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (CPCOG), and the Gulf of Guinea Commission.
10. On June 25, 2013, the Gulf of Guinea Commission, ECOWAS, and ECCAS members adopted a code of conduct to combat piracy, armed robbery, and illegal maritime activities at the Yaoundé Summit on Maritime Safety and Security.
11. At the subregional level, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has undertaken several institutional initiatives to promote the blue economy. These include, among other things, the development of a blue economy strategy adopted in 2023, the promotion of the blue economy in the Medium-Term Indicative Strategic Plan (2021-2025), the strengthening of ocean governance, and the organization of a conference on the development of the blue economy in January 2022.
12. The coastal states, members of ECCAS, represent approximately 2,000 kilometers of coastline with a cumulative exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 715,500 km2. Such marine and aquatic potential offers enormous opportunities in terms of economic and social prosperity. However, many constraints remain in light of the challenges that remain in terms of climate adaptation, impacts related to human activity, and ecosystem preservation.
13. Initiatives such as the Congo Basin Blue Fund (2017), the ECCAS Regional Maritime Security Plan (2013), and the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC) aim to address these constraints and ensure sustainable resource management and biodiversity conservation.
14. Despite the progress made, it should be noted that the structuring of sectors linked to the blue economy remains very weak and regional trade very limited.
15. The 2019 Yaoundé Conference was a first initiative to synergize efforts in the management of the sea and oceans in Central Africa. To further benefit from the 2019 Conference, Cameroon is committed to bringing together Central African countries for a new conference in July 2025, the main objective of which will be to develop a draft resolution to be submitted to the African Union and the United Nations General Assembly on the management of the blue economy in Central Africa.
16. The international conference on the blue economy in the Gulf of Guinea, which Cameroon is co-organizing with the Bureau of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, is part of ongoing efforts to promote the blue economy in Africa.
