Security Council Resolution 2634 (2022) [on Acts of Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea Off the Coast of the States of the Gulf of Guinea]

Calls upon Member States in the region to criminalize piracy and armed robbery at sea under their domestic laws, and to investigate, and to prosecute or extradite, in accordance with applicable international law, including international human rights law, perpetrators of piracy and armed robbery at sea, as well as those who incite, finance or intentionally facilitate such crimes, including key figures of criminal networks involved in piracy and armed robbery at sea who plan, organize, facilitate, finance or profit from such attacks;

Further calls upon Member States to cooperate, as appropriate, on the issues of piracy and armed robbery, in particular on hostage taking, and to cooperate on the prosecution of suspected pirates while respecting fair trial guarantees, including through drafting of agreements, as needed, for the transfer of arrested piracy suspects between states in and outside the region, consistent with applicable international law;

Urges Member States in the region of the Gulf of Guinea to take prompt action, at national and regional levels, with the support of the international community, when requested by the State concerned, and in accordance with international law, to develop and implement national maritime security strategies, including for the establishment of a harmonized legal framework for the prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea, as well as prosecution of persons engaging in those crimes, and punishment of those convicted of those crimes, and encourages the States of the Gulf of Guinea to structure their operations to address illicit maritime activities and develop their capacities to protect their maritime domains, and to ensure cooperation in this regard;

Encourages bilateral and multilateral partners to provide, where possible, adequate legal and operational support, upon request, taking into account national needs, in terms of personnel, funds, technology, training and equipment to States and regional organizations in the Gulf of Guinea, and continue to assist in enhancing their capabilities to cooperate and coordinate their efforts to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea in the region, including with regard to the conduct of patrols, law enforcement at sea, anti-piracy drills, land, maritime and air surveillance, and other operations in accordance with international law;

Further encourages regional organizations, including the AU, ECCAS, ECOWAS, GGC, the Maritime Organization for West and Central Africa, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, as well as the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea mechanism, to enhance subregional, regional and international cooperation on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea and to further operationalize the Yaoundé architecture;

Urges Member States and relevant international organizations to assist States in the region, as well as regional and sub-regional organizations, in ensuring that necessary measures are taken to prevent the revenues generated by piracy and armed robbery at sea from contributing to the financing of terrorism in West and Central Africa and the Sahel;

Urges all States to share information with INTERPOL for use in the global piracy database through regional information sharing arrangements, such as the ICC, and other appropriate channels;

Calls upon UNODC, in close cooperation with other UN entities and in consultation with IMO, as well as INTERPOL, to continue to provide advice and, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, the delivery of integrated and technical assistance that will improve the capacity of Member States, upon their request, to implement this resolution, including by continuing ongoing support for the drafting of regional handover agreements for apprehended piracy suspects;

Encourages the PBC to continue to support, upon request and within its mandate, efforts by States of the Gulf of Guinea and regional and subregional organizations to consolidate peace in and around the Gulf of Guinea;

Requests the Secretary-General, through the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), consistent with their mandates and with the assistance of relevant UN agencies, as appropriate, to continue to report and to support States and subregional organizations in their efforts to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, including with respect to mobilizing resources following the adoption of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct to assist in building national and regional capacities in close consultation with States and regional and international organizations;

Further requests the Secretary-General to report, within five (5) months and on an exceptional basis in advance of the 10-year anniversary of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, on the situation of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea and its underlying causes, including any possible and potential linkages with terrorism in West and Central Africa and the Sahel, on the United Nations’ support and contributions, and on any recommendations for further supporting and enhancing national efforts and regional and international cooperation towards combatting piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea;