China donates patrol boat to Sierra Leone to tackle illegal fishing and piracy off West Africa
- Beijing’s ‘gift’ was commissioned as communities in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Guinea were concerned about Chinese fleets depleting fish stocks
- Analysts say military donations are a diplomatic means for China to strengthen relations with African continent and protect its economic interests.
Bio commissioned the 26.7-metre (87-foot) long navy patrol boat that is equipped with a 14.5-mm calibre weapon.
He said the Offshore Naval Patrol Boat PB 106 – named the Madam Yoko – was a gift from China to the government of Sierra Leone “as a result of the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries”.
01:25
China-funded infrastructure across Africa force difficult decisions for its leaders
Bio said the gift from the Chinese government was significant because it strengthened the country’s offshore capacity and would help the country monitor its territorial waters. Sierra Leone is home to China’s multimillion-dollar mining (mostly iron ore) and timber interests.
“Sierra Leone has been struggling to control illegal, unreported and unregistered fishing on our territorial waters,” Bio said in a speech during the commissioning of the naval patrol vessel on Monday.
Beijing’s contribution to Sierra Leone’s efforts was recognised even though fishing communities along the Atlantic coastline of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Guinea have raised concerns that China’s distant-water fishing fleet has depleted fish stocks.
“This offshore capacity will obviously reduce the risk and deter those crimes in our maritime domain,” Bio said.
