Maritime Security and Pathways to Equity for Women in the Gulf of Guinea

The maritime domain of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) holds significant economic, social, and cultural importance. But this importance is not reflected in sufficiently consistent policy implementation related to gender representation and influence in maritime solutions. While the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, guided by United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (United Nations Security Council, 2000), has advanced women’s participation in peace and security governance, its implementation rarely extends to maritime institutions. The article examines how the WPS framework can better reflect the realities of women in the GoG maritime security domain. Using qualitative methods, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sampling of maritime actors from nine GoG countries. Findings reveal persistent underrepresentation of women, concentration in non-operational roles, limited career progression pathways, weak grievance mechanisms, and the absence of maritime-specific policies. The paper maintains that integrating maritime governance into WPS National Action Plans and developing sector-specific gender-responsive frameworks are critical to enhancing women’s representation, institutional welfare and leadership in maritime security. Strengthening these structures is a sine qua non for gender equality and more effective and inclusive maritime governance in the GoG.