By: ThinkBusiness Africa
The European Union (EU) has launched a significant four-year regional initiative, SCOPE Africa (Securing Corridors, Ports and Exchanges in Western and Central Africa), committing €12 million to enhance the safety, security, and operational performance of ten key seaports across West and Central Africa.
The project, formally inaugurated at a seminar in Lomé, Togo, is a core operational component of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, aiming to support the growth and resilience of vital African port infrastructures that are critical to regional and global trade.
SCOPE Africa will provide targeted support to ten major ports in nine countries, all of which lie on priority land and sea corridors defined by the African Union and regional bodies. These ports serve as essential hubs for distributing goods, including to landlocked countries.
The beneficiary ports include: Togo(Lomé), Nigeria. (Lagos), Senegal (Dakar), Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan), Cameroon (Douala and Kribi), Republic of Congo (Pointe-Noire), Gabon (Libreville), Liberia (Monrovia) Cape Verde (Praia). All ten ports are along the Gulf of Guinea.
The initiative is implemented by a consortium led by Expertise France in partnership with the Belgian cooperation agency, Enabel.
The launch of SCOPE Africa comes at a critical time, as nearly 90% of trade to the African continent moves by sea, and regional maritime trade continues to grow. Officials at the launch seminar emphasized that the project’s ambition extends beyond technical compliance; it seeks to increase the overall resilience and competitiveness of these ports.
By streamlining processes, enhancing security, and fostering regional stability, the project is expected to facilitate trade and transport, which is seen as an essential tool for the successful emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Crucially, the funding addresses the acute economic vulnerability faced by these ports. The historical presence of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and systemic weaknesses in port security translate directly into high insurance premiums and risk surcharges on freight, significantly raising the cost of imports and exports.
Furthermore, porous port environments facilitate illicit activities like drug trafficking and cargo theft, which results in massive loss of customs revenue for governments. By investing in security and efficiency, the EU aims to minimize operational delays, reduce costs, and ensure these ports function as reliable, uncompromised gateways for the economic prosperity of the region and its landlocked neighbors.
By streamlining processes, enhancing security, and fostering regional stability, the project is expected to facilitate trade and transport, which is seen as an essential prerequisite for the successful emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Participants from beneficiary countries, regional organizations, and the private sector reaffirmed their commitment to the joint effort, recognizing the initiative’s profound importance for West and Central Africa’s maritime economy and long-term economic development.
