West Africa: Concerted Global Effort Needed to Curb Piracy in Gulf of Guinea, UN Official Warns

UN News

10 October 2011

West Africa: Concerted Global Effort Needed to Curb Piracy in Gulf of Guinea, UN Official Warns

The top United Nations envoy for West Africa has called for concerted international efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as other forms of transnational crime such as trafficking in narcotics and medicines.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for West Africa Said Djinnit discussed the issue at length on a visit to Benin last Friday with President Boni Yayi and other high-ranking officials, who warned him that their country would suffer an even more severe economic impact if piracy was not contained. Mr. Djinnit announced the forthcoming visit of a UN evaluation team to Benin.