IMO : Promoting a whole of government approach to maritime security

A regional workshop in Djibouti has promoted IMO’s whole of government approach to maritime security in the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden area. The event (22-25 November) was attended by 23 senior government officials from 11 Djibouti Code of Conduct (D CoC) signatory States* at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre.

The IMO-led workshop supports the objectives of the Jeddah Amendment to promote inter-agency cooperation and a whole of government approach to maritime security, focusing on developing national capability and thereby building strong foundations for greater regional cooperation. Participants were taught relevant skills and were familiarised with the IMO model for developing a National Maritime Security Committee, National Maritime Security Risk Register, and National Maritime Security Strategy.

Speaking at the workshop, H.E. Otsuka Umio, Japanese Ambassador to Djibouti, thanked IMO for developing the program and underscored the importance of provisions of the DCoC/JA in enhancing maritime security in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

The course is funded through a Japanese contribution to the Djibouti Code of Conduct Trust Fund.

* Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Mozambique, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, and Yemen