By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Mogadishu, 18 August 2026 Nineteen countries that signed the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct have backed a proposal to create a Combined DCoC Task Force to tackle piracy and armed attacks on ships in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
The signatories are Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, France, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The plan was proposed by the DCoC Steering Committee after an extraordinary meeting on July 29, according to a statement issued on Aug. 13 by Metse Ralephenya of South Africa, chair of the Djibouti Code/Jeddah Amendment. It was endorsed by the DCoC’s National Focal Points on Aug. 5, which tasked Working Group 3 with drafting the operational framework.
Under the proposal, officers from participating coastal states would serve as “sea-riders” aboard naval vessels of other member states. The aim is to improve coordination, maritime awareness and cross-jurisdiction cooperation during operations.
The task force would complement, not replace, existing operations such as the Combined Maritime Forces, CTF 151, EU NAVFOR Somalia and independent naval deployments.
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The DCoC said the model draws on lessons from Operation Copper in Southern Africa and the Combined Maritime Task Force under the Yaoundé Code of Conduct in the Gulf of Guinea.
The countries also voiced concern over a resurgence of piracy and called for the immediate release of seafarers held hostage aboard MT HONOUR 25, SWARD, MV EUREKA and MT ASANA.
Working Group 3 was further tasked with recommending a regional legal framework for the transfer, investigation and prosecution of suspected pirates. The recommendations will go to the DCoC Steering Committee before the 9th DCoC/Jeddah Amendment High-Level Meeting.
The International Maritime Organization supports the Djibouti Code and Jeddah Amendment as regional frameworks for maritime security.
The proposed Combined DCoC Task Force is not yet operational. Working Group 3 must finalize the arrangements before formal approval.