The Department of Transport (DoT) has reported that South Africa is seeking to again be elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). South Africa has been a member of the IMO since its readmission to the United Nations (UN) system in 1995, and has previously served on the IMO Council.

The IMO is the UN agency responsible for regulating shipping. Officially established in 1948, it actually started functioning in 1958. It is based in London, in the UK.

To spearhead the country’s lobbying effort, the South African delegation to the current (129th) session of the IMO Council is being led by Deputy Transport Minister (Mr) Lisa Mangcu. The Council session started on Monday and will run until Friday.

“The attendance and participation of Deputy Minister Mangcu in the Council is to strengthen Africa’s influence and support during the consideration of the IMO’s Strategic Plan for the 2024 to 2029 period as well as during the elections of the future [IMO] Secretary-General,” stated the DoT in its press release. “The IMO Council is the highest decision-making body in-between [sessions of] the Assembly of the [IMO]. The election of South Africa to the body will strengthen Africa’s position and will ensure the representation of the Southern African Development Community sub-region on the Council.”

The election of a new Secretary-General is necessitated by the fact that the term of the current incumbent, South Korea’s Kitack Lim, ends at the close of this year. Lim has held office for two terms, totalling eight years, and must now stand down.

The DoT pointed out that, for the first time, three of the candidates for Secretary-General are women. One of them is Kenyan Ambassador Nancy Karigithu.     

The DoT also reported that the South African lobbying activities started with a dinner for the members of the diplomatic community in London accredited to the Court of St James (that is, accredited to the UK, not those accredited to international organisations based in the UK). This took place at South Africa House and was co-hosted by Mangcu and the South African High Commissioner (Ambassador) to the UK.