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]
Symbol: S/RES/2634 (2022)
Date: 2022-05-31
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/77 [100] AFRICA--REGIONAL SECURITY
S/ X Peace and security in Africa.
Subjects: African Union|Economic Community of West African States|Communauté économique des Etats de l'Afrique centrale|Commission of the Gulf of Guinea|MARITIME SECURITY|PIRACY|ROBBERY|TERRITORIAL SEA|GULF OF GUINEA|REGIONAL COOPERATION|MARITIME SAFETY|MARITIME TRANSPORT|CRIMINAL LAW|CRIMINAL JURISDICTION|INTERNATIONAL LAW|COVID-19
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ALBANIA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: INDIA
vote: yes
country: IRELAND
vote: yes
country: KENYA
vote: yes
country: MEXICO
vote: yes
country: NORWAY
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                      S/RES/2634 (2022)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 31 May 2022




               Resolution 2634 (2022)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 9050th meeting, on
               31 May 2022

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions 2018 (2011) and 2039 (2012), and its
               presidential statement S/PRST/2016/4, on piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf
               of Guinea, as well as its presidential statement S/PRST/2021/15 on maritime security,
                     Expressing its deep concern about the grave and persistent threat that piracy,
               armed robbery and transnational organized crime at sea in the Gulf of Guinea pose to
               international navigation, security, and sustainable development of States in the
               region, including the effect on littoral countries, their hinterland areas and landlocked
               countries,
                     Reaffirming that international law, as reflected in the United Nations
               Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 10 December 1982, sets out the legal
               framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out,
               including countering piracy and armed robbery at sea, and the provisions of this
               resolution apply only with respect to the situation in the Gulf of Guinea,
                     Recalling the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against
               the Safety of Maritime Navigation, the 1988 Protocol of the Suppression of Unlawful
               Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, and
               their 2005 Protocols, which broadly establish the framework for collaboration
               between States Parties,
                    Affirming its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States of
               the Gulf of Guinea and their neighbours, and reiterating that States in the region have
               a leadership role to play in countering the threat and meaningfully addressing the
               underlying causes of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, in close
               cooperation with the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of Central
               African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States
               (ECOWAS), the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), other organizations in the
               region, and their partners,
                     Emphasizing that regional peace and stability, the strengthening of democracy,
               State institutions, national capacity-building, addressing underlying causes of piracy
               and armed robbery at sea, sustainable development, including opportunities for
               women and youth, respect for human rights, and the rule of law and good governance,
               are all critical for long-term peace and stability and to create the conditions for a




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               durable eradication of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea,
               especially following the multifaceted repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic,
                     Expressing its concern over the threat that piracy and armed robbery at sea pose
               to the safety of seafarers, including through their being taken as hostages, as well as
               over the violence employed by pirates and persons involved in piracy and armed
               robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, and over the adverse humanitarian impact on
               the seafarers and their family members,
                     Further expressing its concern about the destabilizing and negative impact on
               West and Central Africa and neighbouring States of transnational organized crime, oil
               and cargo theft, illicit trafficking and diversion of arms, drug trafficking, human
               trafficking, illegal trade and smuggling, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,
               and piracy and armed robbery at sea, and noting the complex relationship between
               these issues,
                     Condemning that pirate networks continue to rely on kidnapping and hostagetaking, in the context of weak national capacities, to help generate funding to purchase
               weapons, gain recruits, and continue their operational activities, thereby jeopardizing
               the safety and security of seafarers and restricting the flow of commerce,
                     Expressing serious concern over the cost of piracy to States in the region
               through economic impacts on trade, investments, development, and growth, noting
               the study supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on
               “Pirates of the Gulf of Guinea, a cost analysis for the coastal states” and its findings
               of significant direct, indirect and opportunity costs to the region, encouraging the
               region, with the support of partners, to address these findings, their underlying causes,
               and to strengthen the measures to counter piracy, and in this regard welcoming the
               interest given to this issue by the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC),
                    Taking into account relevant regional arrangements, such as the African Charter
               on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa, the Africa Maritime
               Transport Charter and the Convention for Cooperation in the Protection, Management
               and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Atlantic Coast of the
               West, Central and Southern African region,
                     Welcoming the initiatives already taken by regional organizations, including
               ECCAS, ECOWAS and GGC, to enhance maritime safety and security in the Gulf of
               Guinea, in particular the Code of Conduct Concerning the Prevention and Repression
               of Piracy, Armed Robbery Against Ships, and Illegal Maritime Activities in West and
               Central Africa (‘Yaoundé Code of Conduct’) and its operational framework, the
               Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC), the Abidjan Interregional Maritime Security
               Institute, the Regional Maritime Safety and Security Centres, and the creation of zonal
               centres under the auspices of the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres,
                    Further welcoming existing national initiatives by States in the region to counter
               piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, including existing and new
               National Integrated Maritime Strategies and Nigeria’s Integrated National Security
               and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (Deep Blue Project), as well as recent piracy
               convictions and legislation passed aimed at the suppression of piracy and other
               maritime offences,
                     Recognizing the contributions by Member States and international organizations
               in support of ongoing efforts by countries in the region and regional organizations to
               counter piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, including through the
               recently established Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum and its Shared
               Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE), the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea, the
               European Union Coordinated Maritime Presences in the Gulf of Guinea, the Zone of
               Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic, and the recently established Atlantic

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           Center in the Azores, and welcoming further support and contributions, with a focus
           on training, joint exercises at sea, operational coordination and capacity-building,
                 Emphasizing the importance of building further on existing national, regional,
           and international initiatives to ensure comprehensive, effective, and practical
           measures to enhance maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea, and in this
           regard noting the need for international assistance to support national and regional
           efforts,
                 Recalling that the signatories to the Yaoundé Code of Conduct have expressed
           their commitment to arrest, investigate and prosecute persons who have committed
           acts of piracy, as well as seizing pirate ships, and rescuing ships, persons and property
           subject to piracy, and encouraging the full and effective implementation of the Code
           of Conduct with a view to eradicating illegal activities off the coast of West and
           Central Africa,
                Underlining the importance of determining the existence of any possible or
           potential links between piracy and armed robbery at sea and terrorist groups in West
           and Central Africa and the Sahel region,
               1.     Strongly condemns piracy and armed robbery at sea, including acts of
           murder, kidnapping and hostage-taking, in the Gulf of Guinea;
                2.     Stresses the primary responsibility of the States of the Gulf of Guinea to
           counter piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea and address their
           underlying causes, in close cooperation with regional and subregional organizations
           and their international partners;
                 3.     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 internationa l
           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;
                 4.    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;
                  5.   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;
                6.     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

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               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;
                    7.    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;
                     8.   Stresses the need for a comprehensive response to prevent and suppress
               piracy and sustainably tackle its underlying causes by the international community,
               in collaboration with the States of the Gulf of Guinea, regional organizations and
               other relevant actors, and encourages Member States to continue to cooperate with
               the national authorities of the States of the Gulf of Guinea in the fight against piracy
               and armed robbery at sea, without impeding the exercise of high seas freedoms or
               other navigational rights and freedoms by ships of any State, consistent with
               international law, as reflected in UNCLOS;
                     9.    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;
                     10. Highlights the importance of enhanced coordination among Member
               States and international, regional and subregional organizations, such as ECOWAS
               and ECCAS, in order to deter acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of
               Guinea, commends the work of the ICC to facilitate such coordination in cooperation
               with the UNODC, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), flag states, and the
               States in the region, and urges the full participation of the coastal States of the Gulf
               of Guinea in all planning and coordination efforts at regional and international levels,
               as well as continued support to these efforts;
                     11. Acknowledges the recommendations and guidance provided by the
               UNODC, including through its Global Maritime Crime Programme, and IMO on
               preventing and suppressing piracy and armed robbery at sea, and urges States, in
               collaboration with the shipping and insurance industries and IMO, to continue to
               develop and implement avoidance, evasion, and defensive best practices and
               advisories to take when under attack or when sailing in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as
               to take all relevant investigative measures immediately following an act or an
               attempted act of piracy or armed robbery at sea;
                    12. 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;
                     13. 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;
                    14. 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;


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                 15. 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;
                 16. 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;
                17.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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