DCOC States Agree On Combined Anti-Piracy Task Force

Introduction

Signatory States of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA) have agreed to establish a Combined DCoC Task Force to protect shipping from the resurgence of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. The decision, announced through the DCoC Chair, Metse Ralephenya of the Republic of South Africa, marks a significant step in regional maritime security cooperation.

The Agreement and Its Purpose

The task force will provide a practical regional mechanism through which willing Signatory States can conduct coordinated maritime operations in support of existing international efforts. This includes the possible embarkation of officers, known as sea-riders, from relevant coastal States aboard participating naval vessels.

The recommendation to establish the task force was agreed upon at the DCOC Steering Committee Extraordinary Meeting held on 29 July 2026. The recommendations were subsequently considered by the National Focal Points of the Djibouti Code of Conduct at a meeting on 5 August, which endorsed the Steering Committee's recommendations.

According to India Shipping News, the task force was recommended under the auspices of Working Group 3 on Operational Coordination and Cooperation at Sea, which has been tasked with developing a comprehensive package of recommendations. The precise composition of the task force, including the types and number of maritime assets that could be contributed by participating States, has not yet been determined, as reported by Marine News Magazine.

Regional and International Context

The decision comes amid what the DCoC Chair described as a "resurgence of piracy and armed robbery against ships" in the region. While considerable progress has been achieved over the past decade, the underlying conditions that enable piracy have not been fully eliminated, according to the chair's statement. Signatory States recognize that maintaining maritime security requires sustained vigilance, stronger regional ownership, and practical operational cooperation among coastal States.

In considering the proposal, the Steering Committee took note of the significant progress being made in the Gulf of Guinea under the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, where regional States have recently operationalized a Combined Maritime Task Force. The proposed DCoC Task Force mirrors this approach and draws on lessons from Operation Copper in Southern Africa, as detailed in the India Shipping News report.

The task force is intended to complement, not duplicate, existing international efforts, including the Combined Maritime Forces, Combined Task Force 151, and EU NAVFOR, according to the same source.

Humanitarian Concern

The continued captivity of seafarers aboard MT Honour 25, Sward, MV Eureka, MT Asana, and other vessels remains a matter of profound humanitarian concern, according to the DCoC Chair. The Signatory States reiterate their call for the immediate and unconditional release of all seafarers currently being held hostage and reaffirm that the safety, dignity, and welfare of seafarers must remain at the centre of all international efforts.

Legal and Operational Cooperation

Regional States have emphasized that an effective regional response should extend beyond the deployment of assets at sea to include cooperation and legal processes, including arrangements for the timely transfer of suspected offenders to jurisdictions able to prosecute them, as reported by Marine News Magazine. Working Group 3 is tasked with developing recommendations for a regional legal framework to facilitate lawful transfer, investigation, and prosecution of suspected pirates, according to India Shipping News.

Background of the Djibouti Code of Conduct

The Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden was adopted on 29 January 2009 by Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Yemen. According to Marine News Magazine, ten more states subsequently joined, bringing the total signatory count to nineteen. These include Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Outlook

The establishment of the Combined DCoC Task Force represents a collective regional response to the recent piracy resurgence. The DCoC Chair has called for support for the initiative from Signatory States, Friends of the DCoC, and international organizations. As the task force moves toward operationalization, its precise structure and asset contributions remain to be determined, with Working Group 3 expected to develop detailed recommendations.