Mogadishu, Somalia – The European Union, in partnership with Somalia’s Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport and the Office of National Security (ONS), officially opened the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Workshop this week in Mogadishu.
The event is part of the €20 million EU-funded Regional Programme on Maritime Security, aimed at enhancing maritime governance, coordination, and safety across the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean region.
Officials from Somalia and the EU emphasized the strategic importance of the workshop, which brings together security experts, maritime authorities, and international partners to strengthen Somalia’s capacity to combat piracy, illegal fishing, and maritime crime.
The workshop will support the implementation of international maritime law, capacity-building for Somali institutions, and regional coordination frameworks in line with the Djibouti Code of Conduct.
Somalia’s engagement in the program marks a significant step forward in asserting control over its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which are critical for national security, trade, and sustainable resource management.