Seychelles has called on fellow Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to take greater collective responsibility in combating maritime crimes that continue to threaten regional security, trade and coastal livelihoods in the Indian Ocean.
Foreign Minister Barry Faure issued the appeal during a meeting with SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi in Victoria, warning that the region must accelerate work on the SADC Maritime Corridor Strategy to confront piracy, trafficking and other transnational threats.
Maritime crime has surged across the western Indian Ocean in recent years, driven by illegal fishing, drug trafficking, human smuggling and sporadic piracy incidents that have re‑emerged along key shipping routes.
The region’s vast and porous waters – stretching from South Africa to Seychelles – remain difficult to police and smaller island states often shoulder a disproportionate share of surveillance and interdiction responsibilities.
Analysts say these threats undermine regional commerce, strain naval resources and expose coastal communities to organised criminal networks.
Faure said stressed that the Maritime Corridor Strategy is essential not only for security but also for advancing regional economic integration, given the central role of sea routes in SADC’s trade flows.
Magosi, who was in Seychelles as part of a regional consultation tour, reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to deeper cooperation and highlighted the importance of aligning security efforts with broader development priorities, including infrastructure investment and private‑sector engagement.
Both sides welcomed the strong partnership between Seychelles and the SADC Secretariat and pledged to intensify collaboration as the region works to secure its maritime domain and protect the economic lifelines that depend on it.
JN/APA