Comoros has established a National Maritime Security Committee (NMSC) to coordinate key aspects of the country's maritime security, following a national workshop delivered by IMO and partners in the capital city Moroni .
The event (31 March to 2 April) marked a critical transition from planning to implementation, building on progress achieved at a previous workshop in December 2024 which supported the assessment of the national maritime security framework and the initial development of the Committee's Terms of Reference.
A part of the EU-funded Port Security and Safety of Navigation project, the workshop brought together 19 participants from a range of government departments, ministries and agencies with an interest in maritime security.
Participation from Police, Customs, Coast Guard, Directorate of Civil Protection, Maritime Affairs Agency (ANAM), Port authorities (SCP), Gendarmerie Nationale, National Center for State Action at Sea (CNAEM), National Civil Aviation and Meteorology Agency, Ministry of Justice, Office of the Minister of Defense reflected a strong national ownership and commitment to a whole-of-government approach to maritime security.
Participants contributed to defining the NMSC's purpose, legal basis, scope and mandate, as well as its composition, organizational structure and operational modalities. These discussions facilitated consensus-building across institutions and reinforced the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing maritime security challenges. The aim was to strengthen national coordination, cooperation and decision-making related to the effective management and mitigation of maritime and port security threats.
The initiative highlighted IMO's continued support to Member States in developing integrated and sustainable approaches to maritime security.
