Japan-funded maritime security courses get underway in Djibouti

The first in a series of regional maritime security courses, funded by the Government of Japan, has been held at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre (DRTC). During a five-day workshop (22-26 April 2018), officials from 10 countries* were able to learn about and share ideas on best practices for maritime domain awareness, including measures to promote coordination and sharing of information at national level as the basis for effective regional cooperation. This is in line with the objectives of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct, under which participatory States pledge to work together, with support from IMO and other stakeholders, to build national and regional capacity to address wider maritime security issues, as a basis for sustainable development of the maritime sector.

His Excellency Koji Yonetani, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Djibouti, launched the workshop, the first under a programme funded by the Government of Japan through the wider Djibouti Code of Conduct Trust Fund, to support the work of the DRTC in delivering regional training to combat piracy and other illicit maritime activities that threaten security and safety of navigation in the West Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

IMO’s Kiruja Micheni and Elisha Moseti led the workshop which was supported by experts from the British Peace Support Team (Africa), United States Naval Forces Africa, Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), European Union Maritime Capacity Building Mission to Somalia, EU CRIMARIO Project, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and East African Standby Force

The workshop was attended by 26 officials from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania.

SOURCE:International Maritime Organization