African Countries Team Up to Fight Pirates

Nearly two dozen West and Central African countries have set up an agreement to combat the threat of piracy and maritime crime in the two regions’ coastal waters, including the notorious Gulf of Guinea, Reuters reports.

The nations’ foreign and defense ministers met in Benin, calling on the governments to arrest and prosecute suspected pirates and seize any vessels believed to have been used in acts of piracy. They also asked shipowners to take action to protect against pirates.

The final agreement requires approval of regional heads of state.