Twenty-three regional States under the Maritime Organization for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (MOESNA) are advancing plans to establish regional shipping lines supported by a Regional Maritime Cabotage Protocol aimed at increasing African participation in maritime trade and retaining maritime wealth currently generated outside the continent.

The initiative was reinforced during a stakeholders’ validation workshop convened by MOESNA in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), where government representatives and industry stakeholders reviewed and endorsed the feasibility study for the proposed regional shipping framework. Participants drawn from ministries, port authorities, maritime administrations, shippers’ councils, and private sector operators agreed that the time had come for African States to take decisive and coordinated action to address persistent capacity, connectivity, and infrastructure gaps in the region’s maritime sector.

Opening the deliberations, MOESNA Secretary General, Mr. Kassim Kaziba Mpaata, described the initiative as “a turning point for maritime sovereignty in the Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa region.” He noted that despite Africa’s strategic coastlines and major sea lanes, regional trade remains heavily dependent on foreign shipping lines, resulting in externally determined freight rates and limited growth of indigenous fleets. He called for the collective ratification and domestication of the Cabotage Protocol, emphasizing that regional cooperation would create employment, expand sea-time opportunities for cadets, and enhance resilience against global supply-chain disruptions.

COMESA Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Kadah, highlighted that more than 80 percent of global trade is transported by sea, yet the region continues to face high freight costs and fragmented maritime services. He clarified that the proposed regional shipping line would not replicate past national carriers but would operate under a disciplined Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model grounded in transparency, performance-based management, and shared risk. He further emphasized alignment with ongoing regional corridor reforms, digitalization initiatives, and climate resilience strategies aimed at improving competitiveness.

The Chair of the MOESNA Coordination Committee and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport and Logistics of the Republic of Zambia, Eng. Fredrick Mwalusaka, underscored in his remarks that the region stands at a defining moment in shaping its maritime future. He noted that although maritime transport carries over 90 percent of Africa’s trade, the continent remains poorly integrated into global shipping networks. He emphasized that the proposed regional shipping line and Cabotage Protocol are strategic, commercially driven initiatives aimed at reducing logistics costs, strengthening regional value chains, and enhancing Africa’s competitiveness through sustainable and inclusive maritime development.

Representing the African Union Commission (AUC), Senior Policy Officer for Transport, Dr. Raissa Julie Allogo, underscored that the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter, which entered into force in 2025, provides a continental legal foundation for trans-African cabotage cooperation. She noted that Article 15 encourages Member States to promote national and regional shipping lines, stressing that maritime collaboration is a strategic necessity given that over 80 percent of Africa’s cargo moves by sea.

From the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Director of Trade in Services, Ms. Emmily Mburu, emphasized that efficient maritime connectivity is essential for expanding intra-African trade, currently estimated at approximately 16 percent of total continental trade. She urged States to accede to the Cabotage Protocol to liberalize regional maritime markets while strengthening Africa’s collective bargaining power in global trade.

Once implemented, the initiatives are expected to foster a coordinated, competitive, and self-sustaining regional maritime ecosystem. Harmonized cabotage regulations and regionally governed shipping services will strengthen indigenous shipping capacity, improve connectivity among regional ports, and reduce logistics costs across Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa. By retaining maritime value within African economies, attracting private investment, and enabling predictable market access for regional operators, the framework will support continental trade integration, expand employment opportunities for seafarers and maritime professionals, stimulate auxiliary maritime industries, and enhance supply-chain resilience.

Currently, nearly more than 80 percent of the region’s international trade is transported by sea, with the majority carried by non-indigenous shipping lines. Limited maritime connectivity and the shortage of African-owned vessels continue to constrain intra-regional trade, underscoring the urgency of establishing regionally coordinated shipping solutions.