Forty-six participants from 18 countries* took part in a virtual meeting (26 August) to discuss the
implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC) amid the global pandemic. The meeting
also assessed progress made at the operational level of the DCoC, and the development of its
governance framework.
The Djibouti Code of Conduct is a key tool in repressing piracy and armed robbery against ships
in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.
The event saw many proposals presented, such as the development of a regional informationsharing network, based on the existing national maritime information sharing centres in all the
participating countries. Other propositions called for better coordination of capacity-building
efforts, based on regional needs and priorities.
IMO gave a presentation on the new EU funded port security project for the region and on the
technical assistance available for the development of National Maritime Security Strategies.
The meeting was opened by the newly appointed Director of the Saudi Border Guard and
incoming Chairman of the DCoC Steering Committee, Major General Muhammed Abdullah AlShehri.
*Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, France, India, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Maldives,
Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, United Arab Emirates
and Yemen.