Those involved in the conference demonstrated the commitment of regional stakeholders to re-imagine Africa's agency in global maritime security and work towards a secure maritime environment along the African coastline. The IOC has established the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar and the Regional Centre for Operational Coordination (RCOC) in Seychelles to enhance maritime security. The launch of the new Safe Seas Africa Programme funded by the EU will further enhance the operationalization of the Maritime Security Architecture of the Western Indian Ocean and promote interconnection with existing maritime security architectures. The African Coast Guard Functions Forum, endorsed at the conference, aims to foster regional collaboration and trust among African coastguards to address maritime security threats. Looking forward: The Italian Coast Guard has pledged to provide technical assistance for the establishment of the African Coast Guard Forum, with Kenya proposing to host the first forum next year.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 22, 2023 11:13 UTC