The African Union (AU) is failing to implement several key maritime strategies which was drawn up, owing to lack of resources and expertise. The AU risks marginalizing maritime security work, therefore this inertia must change in 2017. This policy brief is based on the assumption that long-term, coordinated and sustainable development will lead to improvements in security, economic development and governance in the African maritime domain – a process in which the AU must take the lead. It offers four recommendations, which, should it be pursued, will enable the AU to advance beyond this impasse and immediately revitalize its maritime activities and the institutions involved.
