Djibouti City, Djibouti(Mogadishu24)-The Ambassador of Japan to Djibouti, Keiichi Hara, participated in the opening ceremony of the ‘Maritime Law Enforcement Strategic Forum for Operational Sustainability, Western Indian Ocean Region’ at the Djibouti Regional Training Center (DRTC).

The workshop, organized by the UNODC, is part of a project funded by the Government of Japan with a $2.7 million grant aimed at enhancing maritime security and rule of law at sea in 15 African nations.

Running until October 17, 2024, the forum brings together key maritime security actors from countries across the region, including Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, and South Africa, to bolster their capabilities in maintaining a free and open maritime space in alignment with the Indo-Pacific strategy.

High-ranking officials, including the Chief of the Special Staff of the President of Djibouti and the Commander of the Djiboutian Coast Guard, attended the ceremony to support and encourage coast guard chiefs and members from the participating countries.