The 31st Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the supreme body of this important maritime institution, will be held in London from 25 November to 4 December. No less than 174 Member States, including Equatorial Guinea, and three associate members are represented in this Assembly.

The new Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea to IMO, Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, present at all meetings of this Assembly, has also been instructed to participate in the vote for the election of the 40 members of the Council, Executive Body IMO and subordinate of the Assembly. The Ambassador Nvono-Ncá is positioned as the first permanent representative mandated by President Obiang in London to defend the interests of Equatorial Guinea before the competent maritime authority represented by the IMO.

According to the ambassador, “in the election of the Council, Equatorial Guinea voted for countries that clearly respect the sovereignty and independence of States and wish to protect the integrity of international waters on an equal footing.”

The purpose of these votes is to elect 40 countries divided into three categories:

• Category A: the ten states with the greatest interest in the supply of international maritime services.
• Category B: the ten states with the greatest interests in international maritime trade.
• Category C: 20 States not selected in accordance with (a) and (b), which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose integration into the Council guarantees the representation of all the major geographical areas of the world.

IMO | London | Maritime Security