Since July 17th, experts from West and Central Africa have convened in Libreville to address the pressing issue of passenger safety on Gabon’s inland waterways. Supported by several international and regional maritime organizations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), the International Federation of Maritime Rescue (IFMR), as well as the African Union and the African Development Bank, these specialists are striving to prevent the tragic shipwrecks that continue to devastate many families.
The central question these experts are tackling is how to ensure the safe transportation of passengers on boats within Gabon’s inland waters. This regional workshop, organized by the Gabonese Ministry of Transport with support from the IMO, MOWCA, IFMR, the African Union (AU), and the African Development Bank (ADB), focuses on the “Safety of Inland Waterways and Passenger Ferries in West and Central Africa.”
All the participating countries from West and Central Africa share similar challenges regarding the river transport of passengers. Shipwrecks are alarmingly frequent, often resulting in significant loss of life. Franklin Mulunda Makunga, Legal Director of Congolese Shipping Lines in Kinshasa, highlighted the severity of the situation: “Not a single month goes by without the Democratic Republic of Congo experiencing nightmare scenarios marked by cascading fatalities.”
Saint Régis Malenzapa Koyo Nede, Director of River and Maritime Transport in the Central African Republic, expressed hope that legal frameworks could improve safety conditions: “This interest will boost us, provide new elements, and enhance safety conditions for river units and public waterways in Central Africa.”
Gabon suffered the worst shipwreck in its history when the Esther Miracle sank, resulting in 30 deaths and 7 missing persons. This tragedy underscored the urgent need to strengthen maritime safety measures. Lieutenant Commander Crépin Manfoumbi Mengara remarked, “It was a miracle. Today has shown us the necessity to come together, to gather all state actors involved in maritime actions—not just nationally, but also at the sub-regional and international levels.”
The Libreville meeting aims to establish a common security policy, focusing on both prevention and swift intervention in the event of a shipwreck. This collaborative approach seeks to create safer waterways, ultimately reducing the risk of future maritime disasters and ensuring the well-being of passengers across the region.