On this occasion, an exchange of officers from each of the ships (Commandant Birot and 05 Fevrier 1979) was carried out in order to share our respective procedures. This mixed Franco-Congolese patrol, reinforced by Congolese fisheries inspectors on board, made it possible to carry out a joint visit on two fishing vessels, one of which was in the midst of illegal, undeclared, unregulated fishing (IUU fishing) and to characterize several violations that were then fined at the port of Pointe-Noire.
The success of this joint action demonstrates the relevance of Franco-Congolese cooperation at sea, combining Congolese expertise in local fishing areas and French jurisdiction in fisheries policing and maritime patrol. The links between the Congolese Navy and the French Navy were strengthened, thus fulfilling one of the major objectives of the Corymbe mission.
This strengthening of efficiency by pooling skills reaffirms the relevance of these joint patrols, largely supported by the various architecture centers in Yaoundé.
Architecture of Yaoundé
In June 2013, the leaders of the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) and Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GCC) laid the groundwork for a common regional maritime security strategy at a summit in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
This architecture consists of the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC), an information exchange and coordination structure, which links the Regional Maritime Security Centre for Central Africa (CRESMAC) and the Regional Maritime Security Center for West Africa (CRESMAO). The coastal area is subdivided into 5 operational maritime zones, whose activities are coordinated within 5 multinational coordination centers (MCCs). At the national level, it is planned to have one Maritime Operations Centre (COM) per country.