(VOVworld) - African leaders on Saturday signed a landmark charter that aims to preserve the continent's maritime security and safety. The Charter aims to prevent national and transnational crimes, including terrorism, piracy, armed robbery, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal and unregulated fishing.

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Photo: Reuters)

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, however, said that the Charter "has shortcomings." She said the Charter mainly focuses on safety and security issues, not development. She also called on delegates to continue to make suggestions and help AU draw up an annex to the Charter in the future, which responds to the development side of the maritime space.