The International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) latest global report on piracy and armed robbery shows a decrease in reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea region. Maritime piracy in the area drops to seven and crew kidnappings fall to zero in the first quarter of 2022.

No crew abductions were reported in Gulf of Guinea waters in the first quarter of 2022, a very significant change from the 40 crew abductions during the same period in 2021. The IMB noted that the efforts of the maritime authorities in the region, in addition to the efforts of regional and international navies, have resulted in a significant increase in the number of abductions.The IMB noted that the efforts of the maritime authorities in the region, in addition to the efforts of the regional and international navies, have resulted in a reduction of reported incidents from 16 in the first quarter of 2021 to seven in the same period in 2022. In the same period, kidnappings went from 40 to zero.

The IMB Piracy Reporting Center, however, urges coastal response agencies and independent international navies to "continue their efforts to ensure that piracy is continuously addressed in these high-risk waters," the IMB summarizes. But the IMB report indicates that sustained efforts are needed to ensure the continued safety of seafarers in West African waters.