UN Team Reviewing Piracy Threat in the Gulf of Guinea

Posted November 11th, 2011 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
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The head of the United Nations has sent a team to West Africa to assess and suggest how best to deal with piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

A spokesperson says U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon dispatched the team to Benin at the request of President Boni Yayi.

The team will also visit Nigeria, Gabon and Angola.

Last month, Mr. Ban urged jurisdictions in the Gulf of Guinea to band together to fight piracy while protecting the region's economic development and security.

The Security Council has also adopted a resolution urging states in the Gulf of Guinea to hold a summit on dealing with the piracy threat.

Pirates have been carrying out attacks in the Gulf of Guinea with greater frequency, often targeting vessels carrying oil from Nigeria's southern Delta.

In June, the International Maritime Bureau issued a piracy warning for ships traveling near Benin.