The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening maritime security across the Red Sea, East Africa, Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean regions during the EU Regional Maritime Security Week, held in Nairobi, Kenya (2 - 5 December 2025).
Hosted by the Government of Kenya with support from the European Union and organized in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL and IMO, the event brought together 112 delegates from 16 countries and 12 regional and international organizations.
The event convened the Steering Committees of three EU-funded initiatives, implemented by IMO and other agencies, including the Red Sea, Safe Seas Africa, and Port Security and Safety of Navigation programmes. It culminated with the Steering Committee of the Regional Maritime Security Architecture (RMSA). The Crisis Response Project for the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean was also discussed.
Discussions highlighted concrete results from these projects, including seizures of 2.4 tonnes of drugs and illicit cargo, the arrest of 36 human traffickers and criminals; and multiple fishermen and sailors in distress rescued.
Showcasing IMO regional initiatives
IMO presented a suite of actions aimed at strengthening capacity and maritime security frameworks in the region, including:
- Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA), as the primary regional framework for cooperation against piracy and transnational maritime crime;
- Red Sea Project, supporting maritime governance, legal frameworks and operational coordination in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden;
- Safe Seas for Africa Programme, which assists in the establishment and operationalization of National Maritime Information Sharing Centres (NMISCs); and the
- Port Security and Safety of Navigation Project, to enhance port security and ISPS Code implementation, while promoting safe navigation practices.
These efforts promote interoperability among national and regional centres as well as intra- and inter-agency coordination, while supporting States to develop sustainable maritime governance structures.
Contributing to the Regional Maritime Security Plan
A central focus of the week was the Regional Maritime Security Plan, an emerging framework aimed at improving information-sharing, coordinated maritime responses and the resilience of shipping routes in the region.
IMO, working with DCoC/JA signatory States and regional centres, contributed technical expertise and operational insights, drawing on capability assessments, standard operating procedure (SOP) development, and lessons learned from EU- and IMO-supported activities.
The framework remains under consultation among regional States and partners, though progress in Nairobi laid essential groundwork for future implementation.
A shared vision for safer seas
EU Maritime Security Week concluded with a renewed commitment to deepening cooperation, harmonizing approaches and building on the progress achieved through EU-supported programmes. Delegates exchanged lessons learned and reinforced inter-regional partnerships towards a unified vision for maritime security across Africa's key coastal regions.
