East African states boost maritime surveillance and intelligence sharing

East African states are stepping up efforts to secure their waters by building maritime surveillance and intelligence-sharing systems. This move comes after a surge in piracy incidents in the Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean, which has raised concerns about the security of commercial shipping in the region. In April, Somali pirates hijacked the Palau-flagged oil-products tanker MT Honour 25 off the coast of Puntland, holding its 17 crew members hostage for over five months.

The resurgence of piracy has exposed the vulnerabilities of one of the world's strategically important maritime corridors, where commercial shipping, energy transportation, and fishing activity intersect with illicit trafficking and geopolitical competition. In response, governments across the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean are working to coordinate maritime surveillance, share intelligence, and develop common responses to threats that increasingly transcend national boundaries. A meeting in Dar es Salaam in September brought together representatives of 16 countries to discuss maritime security and validate a draft framework for cooperation between national maritime information-sharing centres.

The framework aims to connect surveillance systems and coordinate responses to threats at sea. Delegates also examined gaps in the systems and procedures used to exchange maritime information. This effort is part of a wider move to build a connected maritime security architecture across the Indian Ocean, where international shipping routes, energy supplies, fishing grounds, and growing geopolitical interests converge. The Kenyan Navy intercepted a flagless dhow in October 2025, carrying 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine worth about $63 million, demonstrating the importance of cross-border maritime intelligence cooperation.

The operation showed how criminal networks exploit the vastness of the Western Indian Ocean to move illicit cargo, and why coastal states increasingly depend on shared intelligence, surveillance, and coordinated naval responses to police waters that extend far beyond their immediate coastlines. Kenya hosted a regional workshop in Mombasa from November 2 to 6 to develop a common maritime security strategy, a regional risk register, and an implementation plan. The workshop, led by the Kenya Navy under the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment, brought together representatives from 12 countries and international partners.

The East African region is beginning to treat the ocean as a shared security space, as maritime threats do not respect national boundaries. A vessel involved in illicit trafficking could depart from one country's coastline, transfer cargo in international waters, pass another country's exclusive economic zone, and eventually reach a port thousands of kilometres away. Kenya is positioning itself as a regional maritime-security convenor, with an economic interest in protecting its port infrastructure, shipping connections, and position as a logistics hub.

Tanzania and Somalia are also central to the East Africa maritime question, with Somalia having an exceptionally long coastline and sitting alongside the Gulf of Aden and the approaches to the Red Sea. Tanzania has the port of Dar es Salaam and maritime connections serving its own economy and landlocked neighbours. For landlocked Uganda, disruptions to shipping, port operations, or maritime logistics can ultimately affect the cost and reliability of imports and exports.

Regional analysts say Mozambique adds another strategic dimension, with the northern Mozambique Channel, offshore energy infrastructure, and the security challenges around Cabo Delgado. The cooperation among East African states aims to address these challenges and ensure the security of the Indian Ocean, a vital waterway for international trade and economic growth. By working together, these countries can better protect their waters and economies from the threats of piracy, illicit trafficking, and other maritime security challenges.

Key points

• East African states are enhancing maritime security through cooperation and intelligence sharing to combat piracy and other threats in the Indian Ocean.
• The region is working to build a connected maritime security architecture to address the vulnerabilities of the Indian Ocean.
• Kenya is positioning itself as a regional maritime-security convenor, with an economic interest in protecting its port infrastructure and shipping connections.