Cameroon Addresses Shipping Registry Abuse Amidst International Pressure
Cameroon is actively working to deregister and sanction foreign vessels that are illegally using its shipping registry to evade international detection and sanctions. These vessels, often referred to as 'shadow fleet' tankers, are frequently involved in transporting oil from sanctioned countries like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. The reforms initiated by Cameroon include suspending new registrations for vessels operating outside its waters and conducting an audit of its existing shipping register. These actions come in response to pressure from international bodies such as the European Union and the International Maritime Organization. The country is also focused on enhancing its digital vessel registration process to combat fraud and improve traceability. Raoul Sumo Tayo, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), notes that while these reforms are commendable, they alone may not fully resolve the issue, as challenges like counterfeit certificates, fraudulent websites, and compromised...
