PIRACY attacks off the coast of West Africa has risen steadily since the first attack final quarter 2012 leading to acquisition of 40 vessels for its depleted navy.
The Ivory Coast reported its first hijacking of a panamax product tanker by suspected Nigerian pirates in the final quarter of 2012 followed by similar attacks into 2013 highlighting the spread of piracy threat.
The increased capacity for its depleted navy, damaged by a decade of political upheaval and brief civil war in 2011, has faced obstacles in UN-imposed embargo on weapon imports.
Its defence minister Paul Koffi Koffi said the vessels placed with France's Raidco Marine number 30 inflatable speed launches and the remaining 10 nine- to 12-metre craft and 33-metre patrol boats.
The vessels, purchased at as yet an undisclosed sum, are to be utilised by the police and para-military gendarmes on rivers, the lagoon and at sea. "They will fight piracy, infiltration and illicit trafficking and will be managed by the navy."
PIRACY
05 February 2014 - 23:07
Ivory Coast rebuilds navy to fight growing piracy in West Africa
PIRACY attacks off the coast of West Africa has risen steadily since the first attack final quarter 2012 leading to acquisition of 40 vessels for its depleted navy.
PIRACY
05 February 2014 - 23:07
Ivory Coast rebuilds navy to fight growing piracy in West Africa
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