‘African Day of Seas and Oceans’ |07 August 2021

President Ramkalawan addressing the delegates (Photo: Jude Morel)

Seychelles hosts Celebrations for the first time

By Patrick Joubert

Seychelles has had the honour, for the first time, tojointly with the African Union, host the 2021‘African Day of Seas and Oceans’.

The event under the theme ‘Transforming the Challenges of African Seas and Oceans into Opportunities’, was held at State House yesterday afternoon.

Seychelles had been given the honour,bythe African Union (AU), to host the opening ceremony of the annual celebration of ‘African Day of the Seas and Oceans’, for being a champion of the blue economy.

Broadcast live on local radio and television, the opening ceremonywas attended by President Wavel Ramkalawan; Vice President Ahmed Afif;Designated Minister Jean-Francois Ferrari who is also the Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy; Ambassador Josefa Sacko, the AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, sustainable environment and the blue economy; and members of her delegation. Distinguished guests including ministers of the AU and other dignitaries on the African continent and elsewhere watched the ceremony virtually.

The celebration of ‘African Day of Seas and Oceans’ by the AUon the African continent focuses on raising awareness on the critical role played by Africa’s oceans and seas in attaining sustainable development goals(SDGs)within the framework of the Transformation Agenda 2030.It also highlights the opportunities and challenges facing Africa’s resources in its seas, oceans, rivers and lakes and allowsdelegates to deliberate on appropriate policies and institutional responses with regards to fisheries and aquaculture, environmental and biodiversity monitoring, marine tourism, disaster risk management (DRM), handling and shipment of hazardous materials and dangerous goods, maritime governance, flag state and port state controland illegal activitiesincluding money laundering, piracy, maritime terrorism, human trafficking and smuggling.

The celebration for ‘African Day of Seas and Oceans’ is celebrated on July 25 of every year since it was adopted during the 22nd ordinary session of heads of states and governments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the AU headquarters in July 2015, but in 2019 it was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances while in 2020 it was postponed due to Covid-19.

In his keynote message for the occasion, President Ramkalawan said Africa’s seas and oceans are very strategic economic assetsand could be regarded as the cornerstone of our modernday development efforts.He noted that Africa is indeed well located to play an important role in the world economy for the richness of its oceans and the facilities she provides for world trade for the benefit of all on the continent.

“Unfortunately, too often the wealth produced by Africa’s natural assets does not return to Africa, but stays elsewhere. This exploitation has to be addressed. I call on all leaders of Africa to help stop the plunder and enrichment of third parties while our African brothers and sisters continue knocking doors with begging bowls,” President Ramkalwan said.

The president also called on Western nations to not only preach democracy and humanitarian principles, but to practice them, as it is only in this manner that we will have fairness and work towards solving poverty issues, while achieving sustainable development goals.

The president also hailed the continent for recognising the importance of its great network of rivers and lakes that feed into these seas and oceans and of course the coastal marshes that are such important reproduction habitats of so many sea water species. He stated that while these waterbodies are integral to our livelihoods, yet some of those, like the Indian Ocean, have been described as being amongst the least explored terrains in the world.

He added that the task is to push for continued scientific research, for oceans and seas to not only have ecological, nutritional and economic values, but also to be recognised for their role as key climate regulators that influence global weather systems. He said Africa must ensure the protection of the planet and that at COP26 the message for the protection of the planet from our continent, at the expense of climate change, must resonate throughout the world.

President Ramkalawan stressed on the need for greater education programmes in getting communities to attach greater values and respect to our seas and oceans which are being affected by over exploitation and pollution. He noted that as our actions impact on the living seas, oceans and waterways in and around our continent, it becomes our duty to also transform the minds of future generations and make the youth of tomorrow the guardians of those important assets.

“In concluding, may I stress that we maintain Africa’s seas, lakes and oceans in their rightful place: at the heart of our modern civilisation,” President Ramkalawan stated.

For his part,Designated Minister Ferrari said the potential of sustainably developing Africa lies in the blue economy.

He noted that by collectively mainstreaming our individual policies and strategies for achieving sustainable development through the development of our ocean is a must for the future of Africa.

“We need to find the solutions today as regards to what can be done in terms of not only developing the best policies and most efficient frameworks, but to literally find out what are the existing challenges that the continent is facing in the governance of the blue economy sectors as well as sharing and celebrating the success stories and best practices that can be adopted in the short and long term to give Africa its well-deserved edge in the global economy,” Designated Minister Ferrari stressed.

Addressing the guests, Ambassador Sacko saidAfrica is endowed with massive aquatic and marine resources including oceans, seas, rivers and lakes with potential for Africa blue economy growth in terms of huge opportunities that can change the narrative for the continent as an engine for socio-economic development and industrialisation.

She noted that despite these benefits and opportunities, Africa’s blue economy potential is however under serious threats and challenges, largely due to governance capacity issues, pollution and climate change. She declared that the AU has established various pan-African instruments in a bid to address these challenges.

“I am therefore delighted to inform you at this juncture that the African Union Commission commenced the operationalisation of the new reform from January 2021 as we now have a full-fledged directorate of sustainable environment and blue economy (SEBE) that is fully taking on board the coordination of the tasks ofblue economy including ocean governance framework and action plan,” she said.

Ambassador Sacko reiterated the resolute commitment of the AU Commission to continue to support member states as advances are made in the blue economy sector. She conveyed warm greetings from Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, to President Ramkalawan, the people of Seychelles and to all dignitaries present at this joyous occasion.

“Lastly, I wish all of us a happy celebration on the commemoration of the 2021 edition of the African Day of Seas and Oceans,” she added.

Apart from the speeches, the ceremony was marked by a video montage about the general perspective of the blue economy space in Seychelles. After the ceremony, the delegates engaged in a virtual panel discussion on best practices and challenges of Africa’s blue economy (ABE). The discussion was moderated by Hemann Immongault,Ambassador of the Republic of Gabon and permanent representative to the AU.