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Panama Signs The Gulf Of Guinea Declaration

Panama has joined maritime companies, organizations and flag states in signing the Gulf of Guinea Declaration on Suppression of Piracy.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

June 25, 2021

1 Min Read
Panama Flag flying in the wind
Photo: Luis Gonzalez - Unsplash

The signatories agree that piracy and kidnappings are preventable through active anti-piracy operations, including law enforcement by non-regional naval forces, with the aim of reducing the number of attacks by 80% by the end of 2023.

Panama as a flag state and a country committed to the seafarers’ welfare on board its vessels, signed the commitment and joined the coalition to stop the threat posed by piracy to the maritime industry, through concrete actions such as:

• Supporting concretely anti-piracy law enforcement.
• Facilitating the implementation of effective onboard measures, within the region.
• Improving capabilities in the use of technology and exchange of relevant information among anti-piracy law enforcement agencies.
• Working to improve transparency among law enforcement agencies.

The Gulf of Guinea is plagued by pirate attacks. In 2020, 132 incidents were reported and in 2021, sixteen incidents have been reported so far.

About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

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