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MARITIME ORGANISATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA (MOWCA) Sub-Regional Sectoral Integration - for cost effective maritime/transit transport services, high on safety, security, low on pollution |
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Final Report of The 5th Session of the Bureau of Ministers Meeting, held in Luanda-Angola from 27- 28 July 2006FINAL REPORT INTRODUCTION
The meeting took place in the Conference Room of ALVALADE Hotel under the chairmanship of the current Chairman of MOWCA. PARTICIPANTS Ministers and Plenipotentiaries representatives of the following member States, members of the Bureau of Ministers attended the meeting:
The Secretary General of MOWCA took part in the meeting as member of the Bureau. The following Specialised Organs and Maritime Academies provided the Bureau with technical assistance:
OPENING CEREMONY The opening ceremony consisted of the following speeches:
The Chairman of the organising committee of the Session, Mr. Felmeno Mendoça Silva Michel, National Director of Merchant Marine and Port welcomed all the delegations and wished to them a pleasant stay in Republic of Angola. He informed the participants about necessary measures taken to let them feel at home and for the good running of the meeting. The Secretary General of MOWCA, Mr. Magnus Teye Addico also welcomed all the delegations. Then, he emphasised the importance of the 5th Session of the Bureau of Ministers which must prepare the 13th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly of MOWCA. To this end, the Bureau of Ministers will mainly examine the Secretary General’s activity report and the report of the MOWCA Experts Committee’s meeting held in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) from 29th to 2nd June 2006. The Secretary General expressed his warm thanks to all members of the Bureau of Ministers for their effective participation in this session and congratulated the MOWCA current Chairman, His Excellency André Luis Brandao, for the sacrifices done to host the meeting. Then, Ministers, Plenipotentiaries, Heads of delegations, expressed, through speeches and messages, the full adhesion of their respective countries to the sub-regional maritime cooperation and particularly their support to the implementation of MOWCA projects and programs. CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEM OF THE AGENDA Item 1: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA On a proposal by the Secretary General, the Bureau of Ministers adopted the draft agenda under document: MOWCA/5B-06/1. Item 2: ORGANISATION OF WORK 2.1. Working language The Bureau meetings proceeded in the three working languages of MOWCA. There are: English, French and Portuguese 2.2. Meeting in plenary Due to constraints of cost and logistics, the Bureau of Ministers proposed that the meetings should be held in plenary 2.3. Working hours The meetings started in the morning at 9.00 a.m. and broke at 12.30 noon. In the afternoon, they resumed at 2.30 p.m. and ended at 6.00 p.m. Item 3: SECRETARY GENERAL’S ACTIVITY REPORT
Since the 12th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly, the Secretary General activities are based mainly on one hand on the implementation of the decisions of the said session and on the 4th Bureau of Ministers held in Luanda from 22 to 24 March 2005 on the other hand. These are:
In implementing his work program, the Secretary General expressed his deep gratitude for the invaluable support of the Republic of Angola in particular, the Chairman of MOWCA, Honourable André Luis Brandao, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Angola, Honourable Deputy-Minister of Transport and the team of Experts working with the MOWCA Chairman particularly the Chairman of MOWCA Committee of Experts: Dr. Pepe De Gove and Mr. Candido Da Silva, as well as Mr. José Tomas, Executive Secretary of Angolan Shippers’ Council. He also expressed, for their support, his recognition to the member States and the Working Group of the Experts. He also expressed his deep gratitude to the member States for their support; in particular the Hon Minister of Transport, Hon Innocent Anaky Kobena of the host Nation, Côte d’Ivoire, and his team of Experts. The Secretary General expressed his deep gratitude to the member States who, during this period, have honoured their financial commitments to the Organisation namely: Angola, Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal. He also expressed his high appreciation for the efforts being made by other member States to honour their financial commitments. He also congratulated the Republic of Angola and the Federal Republic of Nigeria for financing their respective Experts to conduct a mission on the feasibility study on Regional Maritime Bank. He congratulated the two Experts for the work done. The Secretary General further congratulated the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Republic of Senegal for the role played in organising the tests of the Sealed Grid System SGP through the Abidjan – Abuja and Dakar – Niamey corridors. He also congratulates all the States on the two corridors for their technical, financial and logistical support which contributed to the success of these operations. He congratulated the Experts from Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal for drafting the evaluation report on the tests. The Secretary General expressed his gratitude to the International Partners of MOWCA for their assistance, particularly, IMO, the Republic of Korea, its Embassy in Abidjan and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), France, United Kingdom, United States and Canada, for their availability to sustain the implementation of the projects and programs of the Organisation. The Secretary General seized the opportunity to also convey his congratulations and gratitude to the Representative of MOWCA at IMO, Specialised Organs, the Maritime Academies and to the Staff of MOWCA Secretariat for their availability and their important contribution to the execution of his work program. The Bureau of Ministers took note of this activity report. All the delegations congratulated the Secretary General for the effort made and the results obtained despite the limited means and the political crisis situation in Côte d’Ivoire, the host country and encouraged him in pursuing his activities. In addition, the Bureau of Ministers appreciated the support granted to the Secretary General, in particular from the member States, the Chairman, the International Organisation and the Development Partners. During the debate, the Bureau of Ministers urged to enhancing the cooperation with the Specialised Organs and with other sub-regional organisations such as ECOWAS, UEMOA, CEMAC and CEEAC in order to harmonise the projects and programs and avoid overlapping. The Bureau of Ministers also recommended organising seminars on the definition and the implementation of maritime and ports sector policies and the facilitation of transit transport in the sub-region. Decision N° 1/06 relating to the implementation of 2004/2006activity program of the Secretary General The Bureau of Ministers:
Item 4: REPORT OF MOWCA COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN ABIDJAN FROM 29 MAY TO 2 JUNE 2006 The Chairman of the Experts Committee, Mr. Candido Da Silva (Angola), presented the Experts Committee meeting report held in Abidjan (Côte d’ivoire) from 29th May to 2nd June 2006 at which seventeen (17) Representatives of member States took part as well as the Specialised Organs and Maritime Academies. The Chairman of Experts Committee seized the occasion to thank the current Chairman of MOWCA, the Secretary General and the Ivorian Government for their support to the meeting of Experts and all member States, Specialised Organs, Chairmen of Commissions and Maritime Academies as well as Experts of MOWCA projects for their participation and their significant contribution during the deliberation of Experts Committee meeting. Item 5: CONSIDERATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXPERTS COMMITTEE 5.1.1. Integrated Sub-Regional Coast Guard Network to provide economies of scale in the provision of coastguard duties along the entire West and Central African Coastline. It will facilitate the implementation of IMO conventions and Codes related, among others, to suppression of armed robbery, piracy and other illicit acts against ships (SUA Convention), Maritime Security and Safety (SOLAS and ISPS Code), Marine Pollution (MARPOL), Search and Rescue (SAR Convention). The project was approved by the General Assembly of Ministers of Transport of MOWCA and by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Bureau of Ministers has approved during its 4th Session:
In addition, the Bureau of Ministers has requested the conduct of a feasibility study on the Sub-regional Integrated Coast Guard Network. Within the framework of its cooperation with MOWCA, the Republic of Korea has offered a programme of assistance to the Organisation through its Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) that permitted among others,
In the effort to implement the above recommendations of the Bureau of Ministers, the Secretary General did a presentation on the Integrated Sub-regional Coast Guard Network project during the IMO meetings in May and in November 2005. Following these presentations, IMO assigned two consultants (from France and Canada) to conduct the said feasibility study on the sub-regional Coast Guard network from 8th to 30th January 2006 through the following six (6) MOWCA member States: Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Angola. Due to the political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire which had affected flights, the Experts could not go to Congo from Nigeria. However, one of the experts had some information on Congo which made it possible for data on Congo to be included in the study. The consultants presented, on 15th February 2006, their assessment report on the project and have made the following observations and recommendations:
The Committee of Experts held in Abidjan from 29th May to 2nd June 2006, generally agreed with the findings contained in the Evaluation and Assessment Report of the IMO consultants on the Coast Guard project. However, the Experts disagreed with the recommendation to adopt a Convention to create a multinational body on the coast guard for the sub-region. The Experts recommended the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the sub-regional coast guard network relying on the Abuja MOU as a precedent. The MOU shall contain four (4) parts as follows: Part 1: Establishment of a national Coast Guard by each individual member State of MOWCA. Part 2.: Detailed Principles for Regional Cooperation in the area of coast guard . Part 3. Establishment of Integrated Coast Guard Network embodying the MOWCA model that is:
Part 4: Implementation of relevant conventions of IMO such as SUA Convention. The meeting set up a working group to produce a draft MOU to be submitted to the Secretary General for the attention of the Bureau of Ministers. The Bureau of Ministers reaffirmed the interest of the project of the integrated sub-regional Coast Guard Network and congratulated the Secretary General of IMO and MOWCA Experts Committee for their contributions and the relevant recommendations which were made; The Bureau of Minister recommended drafting of the Memorandum of Understanding on the integrated sub-regional Coast Guard Network for its adoption during it 13th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly. Decision N° 2/06 relating to the Sub-regional Integrated Coast Guard Network The Bureau of Ministers:
5.5.2.. Implementation of IMO Conventions: ISPS code The Bureau of Ministers took note of the Secretary General’s report on the implementation of the ISPS Code in the sub-region by the efforts made by PMAWCA; To date, seventeen (17) Coastal member States of MOWCA have implemented the ISPS Code leaving three members States: Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Sierra Leone. The Bureau of Ministers expressed its appreciation for the progress made in the implementation of ISPS Code in the sub-region Decision N° 3/06 relating to the implementation ISPS Code The Bureau of Ministers:
5.5.3.. .Linkage between MDG’s and IMO’s ITCP against poverty (presentation) The Bureau of Ministers took note of the presentation made on the theme “Achieving Millennium Development Goals through the Integrated Technical Cooperation program.” Following the presentation, the Millennium Development project to be achieved by 2015 encompasses 8 goals. Five of those goals have a link with maritime transport:
The contribution of IMO to the Millennium Development Goals is done through various ways such as: regulation, environmental policy and promotion. Two main targets to be achieved by 2015 concerning the maritime industry are:
The Bureau of Ministers, highly appreciated this presentation, requested the Secretary General in connection with the MOWCA Representative at IMO, to follow up the questions related to the MDG and to inform member States thereon Decision N° 4/06 relating to the linkage between the MDG & ITCP/IMO against poverty in the sub-region The Bureau of Ministers exhorts MOWCA member States to assure that for the maritime sector, the objectives and indicators aiming at the reduction of poverty are built-in in the national and regional programs and strategies 5.5.5.. Information and Communication Centre The aim of the project is to create a centralized regional database and data interchange system linking all the member States of MOWCA and which will be accessible to the general maritime industry, through the use of internet and intranet technology. The Secretary General has launched the implementation of Information and Communication Centre through the following website: www.marineafric.com. Côte d’Ivoire, the host country, committed itself to provide to MOWCA an adequate office accommodation for the effective installation of the Information and Communication Centre. Within the framework of its assistance to MOWCA, the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), donated to the Secretariat four (4) computers and four (4) servers for the Information and Communication Centre. The Secretary General also informed the Bureau of Ministers about the appreciable efforts of the Republic of Congo in putting in place its Information and Communication Centre with the view to ensuring its coordination with the Centre of Information and Coordination of MOWCA. The Bureau of Ministers reaffirmed the interest of MOWCA Information and Communication Centre and congratulated the Secretary General for the progress made for the implementation of the project. The Bureau of Ministers urged member State to give their support to the establishment of the Information and Communication Centre by providing the Centre with a regular port statistics and other economic data. Decision N°5/06 relating to the Centre of Information and Communication The Bureau of Ministers:
Item 5.2. DEVELOPMENT OF MARITIME TRANSPORT SERVICES IN THE SUB-REGION 5.2.1. Situation of Coastal Shipping Services to develop maritime services particularly the Coastal Shipping Services, approved by MOWCA, two private companies had been set up: ECOMARINE and SATOMAR. It arises from the Secretary General’s report that ECOMARINE is functioning but yet to breakeven and SATOMAR is virtually inoperational. The discussions underlined the necessity of the political support from the member States and support from the ports. The ports should grant preferential tariffs to the sub-regional shipping lines to progressively improve their capacity. The Bureau of Ministers exchanged views on the development of the coastal shipping services which is important for the promotion of the intra-regional trade and economic integration of member States. In this respect, the Bureau of Ministers was pleased with the existing of the bilateral agreements between merchant marine in the sub-region and which could be extended to the other member States. The Bureau of Ministers authorised the Secretary General to convene an Experts meeting to define the suitable framework of the coastal shipping service in the sub-region Decision N° 6/06 relating to cabotage The Bureau of Ministers:
5.2.2. Issues relating to EWATA Conference The Bureau of Minister took not of the Secretary General’s report on the concern of member States in the face of freight rate increases, effected by the member Lines of the Conference EWATA without the expected negotiations with its African Partners. In this regard, the Secretary General initiated consultation meetings with UASC. It was noted that the European Commission envisaged the dissolution of EWATA. While waiting for the decision of the European Commission, the consultation meeting invited UASC to take all necessary action to protect the interests of Shippers of the sub-region. On looking above, the Bureau of Ministers, after exchanges of views, urged the Secretary General to convene a meeting with the European Union and the World Bank, if possible before the 13th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly of Ministers with a view to discussing the problem of Ewata. Decision N° 7/06 on issues relating to EWATA Conference The Bureau of Ministers:
5.2.3. Multimodal Transport The Secretary General recalled the Bureau of Ministers that during the UNCTAD meeting on Multimodal Transport and Logistics, chaired by the Secretary General of MOWCA in September 2003, the member States of UNCTAD had made the following observations and recommendations:
Following this report, the Bureau of Ministers reaffirmed the interest of the sub-region for multimodal transport which must participate in the safety as well as the facilitation and in the development of international and intra-regional trade. Thus, the Bureau of Ministers urged the Secretary General to convene a meeting of the Working Group to examine the Multimodal Transport Convention with the view to recommend its ratification by member States. Decision N° 8/06 relating to multimodal transport The Bureau of Ministers:
5.2.4. . UNCITRAL Convention The Bureau of Ministers took note of the presentation of the Secretary General on negotiations are on going at the level of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNICITRAL) in order to adopt a new convention on carriage of goods wholly or partially by sea. This Convention would replace the 1978 Convention called the Hamburg Rules. It arises from this presentation that most of the questions under discussion at the negotiations have already been examined in the framework of the Comité Maritime International (CMI), a private organisation constituted by National Maritime Law Associations. Currently Nigeria is the only country of the sub-region member of CMI. Moreover, the Bureau of Ministers was informed of the consultation meeting initiated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Nigerian Maritime Law Association in collaboration with MOWCA, it had been recommended to encourage the establishment of National Associations of Maritime Lawyers in the member States of MOWCA. These Associations would be coordinated at the sub-regional level by a Committee of Maritime Lawyers to create at the level of MOWCA. The Bureau of Ministers also took note of the report of Senegal on the conclusion of 17th Session of UNCITRAL held in New York from 3 to 13 April 2006 on the said draft convention on carriage of goods by sea. Following these presentations, the Bureau of Ministers congratulated the Governments of the Republic of Senegal and Federal Republic of Nigeria for their contribution with respect to the commune position in the sub-region during the negotiations on the draft Convention on carriage of goods fully or partially by sea Decision N° 9/06 relating to International Convention on carriage of goods by sea (UNCITRAL The Bureau of Ministers:
Item 5.3. 5.3.1. Sealed Grid System (SGP) for safe transport of goods in transit/Almaty Program of Action Sealed Grid System Project approved by MOWCA through Resolution No 187/11/01 at the 11th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly of Ministers held in Abuja, June 2001. The System consists of a metallic or sisal net, or of synthetic or semi-reinforced synthetic net, stretched over a vehicle to be sealed by the customs. The implementation of the Sealed Grid System (SGP) is expected to simplify and facilitate transport of goods in transit through borders as recommended by relevant International Conventions, namely ISRT/ECOWAS Convention as well as the Almaty Program of Action. The Ministers of Transport recommended that the Sealed Grid System (SGP) is tested along various corridors in West and Central Africa to check its reliability and its contribution to customs sealing as well as the safety of goods in transit. The tests of the Sealed Grid System have been organised on two corridors: Abidjan – Abuja in August 2005 and Dakar – Niamey in February 2006 with the assistance of Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal with logistic support of the other member Countries on the two corridors. The Evaluation report produced by two Experts provided by Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal indicates that the member States are ready to implement the Sealed Grid System. During the testing operation, members States showed their availability to implement SGP for the fluidity of transit transports and trade in the sub-region. The Bureau of Ministers highly appreciated the provisions taken for organising the confidence test of the Sealed Grid System and encouraging results obtained; In this respect, the Bureau of Ministers congratulated the Secretary General, members States of the corridors and all partners concerned for their important contribution. The Bureau of Ministers recommended a conference of sponsors in order to accelerate the implementation of the Sealed Grid System Decision N° 10/06 relating to the report of Sealed Grid System for the safe transportation of transit goods The Bureau of Ministers:
Item 5.4. REGIONAL MARITIME BANK The Secretary General recalled that based on the Regional Maritime Fund and a large capital outlay of the maritime institutions and ports of the sub-region, MOWCA is in a position to establish a Regional Maritime Bank to provide a solid support to maritime and port sector development as well as to transit transport development in the sub-region. It would therefore be a Development Bank. The project to create a Regional Maritime Bank had been approved by MOWCA. To this effect, the Bureau of Ministers requested for a feasibility study to be conducted on the Bank by two Experts: from Angola and Nigeria. The Experts report shows the feasibility of the Regional Maritime Bank with the assistance of the maritime Community of the sub-region. The Bureau of Ministers reaffirmed the interest for the sub-regional to have a Regional Maritime Bank and congratulated the Secretary General, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Angola, the member States and the Expert of the project for their contributions which allowed the progress made in the implementation of this important project. The Bureau of Ministers exhorted the Secretary General to pursue necessary initiatives for the participation of all members States in the establishment of the Regional Maritime Bank. Decision N° 11/06 relating to Regional Maritime Bank The Bureau of Ministers:
Item 5.5.: ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL MATTERS
The Bureau of Ministers took note, following the Secretary General report, that the political crisis in the host country, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire since 2002, has had serious effects on the activities of the General Secretariat of the Organisation. However, thanks to the support from Ivorian Authorities, particularly the Minister of Transport, the Secretary General continued the execution of his work program The Bureau of Ministers renewed MOWCA thanks to the Ivorian Government for the support brought to the Secretary General despite the crisis situation and expressed the warm wish of the Organisation for the return of peace in Côte d’Ivoire Reinforcement of the Secretariat Within the framework of the Conditions of Service and with the view to reinforce the Secretariat, the Secretary General proposed the recruitment of Personnel to the following positions:
Decision N° 12/06 relating to situation of the General Secretariat and to the reinforcement of the Secretariat The Bureau of Ministers:
5.5.2. Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of MOWCA Conforming to decision made during the 4th Session, the Bureau of Minister approved that the 13th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly of Ministers of OMAOC, scheduled to take place this year in Senegal, will be the occasion to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Organisation. The Bureau of Ministers also approved to give awards in the following categories:
Organs and Academies
Decision N° 13/06 relating to the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of MOWCA The Bureau of Ministers:
5.5.4.. Work program and budgets for 2007/2008 The Bureau of Ministers took note of the Financial Report of General Secretariat for the financial years 2004/2005 under the document OMAOC/5B.06/5.5.3. The Bureau of Ministers, after exchanges of views, congratulated the Secretary General for the efforts made despite difficulties encountered in the financing of the its activities. Then, on a proposal of the Secretary General, the Bureau of Ministers approved the Work Program 2007/2008 under the document OMAOC/5B.06/5.5.4. Decision N° 14/06 relating to Audit & Financial report The Bureau of Ministers:
INSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 5.6.1.Observer Status
The Bureau of Ministers took note of the Secretary General’s report on the relation between MOWCA and the General Secretariat of Memorandum of Understanding on Ports States control (MOU/Abuja). It raised from this report that the MOU/Abuja Secretary General in a letter dated 28th October 2005, addressed to MOWCA General Secretariat, made a formal request for an observer status for the MOU at MOWCA meetings following the conclusions of the Ad Hoc Committee put in place during the 4th meeting of Bureau of Ministers and coordinated by Angola, the Secretary General of Abuja/MOU, The Bureau of Ministers congratulated the Secretary General and the members of the Ad Hoc Committee for initiatives taken and approved the request for an observer status for the MOU/Abuja. Decision N° 15/06 relating to observer status of Abuja/MOU The Bureau of Ministers approves the request for an Observer Status by Abuja/MOU.
e United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) has confirmed by letter dated 29th March 2006 its willingness to grant to MOWCA an Observer Status. The 17th Session of UNCITRAL held in New York from 3rd to 13th April 2006 had as part of its agenda the examination of the draft International Convention on carriage of goods wholly or partially by sea; this Convention would replace the 1978 Convention on the Hamburg Rules. The Bureau of Ministers, having recognised the importance of the role of UNCITRAL in the promotion of international trade, recommended the reciprocity of an observer status with MOWCA. Decision N° 16/06 relating to observer status of UNCITRAL The Bureau of Ministers: (i) Appreciates the importance of the role of UNCITRAL in the promotion of international trade; (ii) Recommends a reciprocal observer Status between MOWCA and UNCITRAL to reinforce their cooperation in the field of International Trade Law; 5.6.1.3. Amendment to the article 5 of the Rules of Procedure of MOWCA relating to the composition of Bureau of Ministers
The Bureau of Ministers is invited to consider, for approval, the below amendment proposal to the Article 5 of the Rules of Procedure, in view to admit as “permanent member of the Bureau of Ministers” the Headquarters country of the Organisation
According to the defined attribution to article 6 of the Rules of Procedure, it would be indicated like other international institutions, to include the headquarters country of the Organisation into the composition of the Bureau of Ministers in his capacity as:
Furthermore, if he is member of the Bureau of Ministers, the headquarters country will be obliged to give example, among the others, through regular payment of his obligations to the Organisation and also with an adequate environment to the General Secretariat which needs the best working conditions of service for the effective implementation for its activity program.
The Bureau of Ministers is institutionalised by article 5 and its attributions are defined in article 6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Organisation 3.1. The Composition of the Bureau The Bureau of Ministers, in accordance with article 5 of the Rules of Procedure comprises currently seven (7) members countries as follows:
The Secretary General of MOWCA is also member of the Bureau of Ministers The Maritime Academies and Specialised Organs of MOWCA system provide their technical support to the Bureau of Ministers and then participate in the meeting. 3.2. Attribution of the Bureau In accordance with article 6 of the Rule of Procedure of the Organisation, the Bureau of Ministers of MOWCA is in charge between the periods of the Ordinary Session of the General Assembly:
To this regard, the Bureau of Ministers meets twice per year to review all the institutional, organisational and financial matters of the Organisation placed on its agenda by the Secretary General. The Secretary General shall submit, to the Bureau, the reports and recommendations of the Specialised Organs, the Specialised Commissions and the Regional Maritime Academies, for information, and decision where necessary. Decision N° 17/06 relating to the amendment of article 5 of the Rules of Procedure of MOWCA relating to the Bureau of Ministers The Bureau of Ministers:
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Upon the invitation by the Chairman of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), His Excellency Luis André Brandao, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Angola, the 5th Session of the Bureau of Ministers was held in Luanda on 27- 28 July 2006.
It arises from the Secretary General’s activity report that during 2004/2005 period, the political crisis in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, host Nation, had a serious impact on the General Secretariat activities. Nonetheless, the Secretary General made maximum effort in implementing the sub-regional projects and programmes of the Organisation.