Doraleh II Exercise Boosts Interoperability for Somali and Regional Maritime Forces in SAR, MDA, and Law Enforcement

The Doraleh II Regional Exercise successfully concluded on Thursday 30 October 2025 at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre, marking a significant step in strengthening operational cooperation among regional and international maritime security actors. The exercise was jointly conducted by EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA and the Djibouti Regional Training Centre, and supported by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, with active participation from Somali maritime authorities, including the Somali Police Force – Department of Coast Guard (SPF-DCG), the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), the Somali Navy Coast Guard, and the Somaliland Coast Guard (SLCG).

The event aimed to enhance interoperability and information sharing in Search and Rescue (SAR), Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) operations across the Western Indian Ocean. Through live scenarios, briefings, and shipboard activities, participants practiced coordinated responses to simulated maritime emergencies, piracy incidents, and illicit trafficking at sea, while using the IORIS platform developed by EU CRIMARIO.

The exercise provided an exceptional opportunity for Somali maritime institutions to operate alongside international partners, reinforcing confidence-building, mutual understanding, and the shared commitment to ensuring safety and security at sea. EUCAP Somalia played a key role in facilitating the participation of Somali counterparts, in line with its mandate to support the development of a sustainable and operational Somali Coast Guard and the effective implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct / Jeddah Amendment.

This regional cooperation represents a tangible contribution to collective maritime security efforts, demonstrating the importance of partnership between the European Union, Djibouti, Japan, and Somali authorities in safeguarding international maritime routes in the Western Indian Ocean.

Press release EUNAFVOR Operation ATALANTA https://bit.ly/4oTa78Q