By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
The Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority, Leticia Reis de Carvalho, has called on the leaders of Cameroon to trigger the country’s fantastic diplomatic aptitude to get member states adopt the rules and regulations of the Marine Code.
This was one of the key declarations of Leticia Reis de Carvalho on February 10, 2026, when she emerged from an audience granted her by Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Head of Government; Chief. Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute.
Responding to questions, the International Seabed Authority Scribe told reporters that she expects Cameroon to be a leader in the discussions of upcoming meetings because decisive elements of the organisation are at stake, particularly the conclusions of the rules and regulations of its Marine Code.
“I hope to see Cameroon exercising its fantastic diplomacy to conduct the work of the member states because this decision relies on member states. But I hope to be able to convene a good table for Cameroon and others to be able to adopt the Marine Code by the end of this year or as soon as possible.
“This is because the Deep Sea needs rules and we cannot afford not having collective rules that are decided in the Chambers of the Secretariat of International Seabed Authority that is composed of 170 countries and the European Union. And in other sense of the rules, we might face unilateral action on the Deep Sea that belongs to all of us as a common heritage of mankind. That is the status of the law of the Deep Sea that covers international jurisdiction,” de Carvalho told reporters.
Disclosing that her visit to Cameroon was the first ever to the country as well as the African continent since she took over office about a year ago, de Carvalho said her presence was an opportunity to appeal to the Prime Minister on the key role of Cameroon and Africa in the debates and definition of rules of the International Seabed Authority.
She expressed joy that she was both voted by Cameroon in the endeavour. “As we look ahead, I just had the opportunity, a day ago, to open officially, the Diplomatic Deep Sea Academy hosted by the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC – a school of diplomats not only for Cameroon but many others in the continent. The opening of the academy that is a partnership between the International Seabed Authority and Cameroon represents a seat of training future leaders in Deep Sea Biosphere.
“So, I am very happy that I had the opportunity in my journey to open this partnership and look forward to the many nationals from Cameroon and others from the global south who will come here and learn to become leaders of Deep Sea Affairs,” de Carvalho declared.
oasting at State Dinner in honour of visiting International Seabed Authority Scribe
Leticia Reis de Carvalho was also received in audience on February 9 by the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of External Relations, MINREX, in-charge of the Commonwealth; Felix Mbayu, who offered a state dinner in her honour.
She disclosed after the audience at MINREX that their discussions centred particularly on Cameroon’s important role of serving as a foundation in Deep Sea Diplomacy and the Law of the Sea.
“I am happy to be in this country that has given so much of its wisdom and that of Africa to the International Seabed Authority and I wish to continue to stand in this capacity as I drive the organisation and the affairs of the Deep Sea into the future,” de Carvalho stated.