The East African Maritime Security Summit 2015

12.10.2014

The East African Maritime Security Summit 2015 - Djibouti

The East African Maritime Security Summit is being held from 17th to 19th February 2015 in Djibouti, Horn of Africa.

AFSEC 2015 - the East African Maritime Security Summit - seeks to reassess the maritime security situation in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Utilising the 2009 Djibouti Code of Conduct regarding 'The Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden' as a framework, the conference will examine lessons learned over the past 5 years and develop strategies for future cooperation in broader areas of maritime security beyond piracy.

Following a period of relative calm, International Forces from the Big 3 (EU NAVFOR’s Operation ATALANTA, NATO’s OCEAN SHIELD and Combined Maritime Forces TASK FORCE 151) are expected to reduce their assets in the region. A necessary transition is being planned in order to ensure the nations of the region gradually step up to augment this military presence.

Djibouti, home to military facilities including Japan, France, and America, as well as international organisation including IGAD and EUCAP NESTOR, is the ideal venue for this conference.

The country acts as an international maritime and military laboratory where new forms of cooperation are being developed. The Djibouti Regional Maritime Training Centre, due to be opened in February 2015, will host the conference.