Cutlass Express 2024 Builds Ties, Improves Interoperability

ADF STAFF

As piracy, illegal fishing and human trafficking continued to plague East African waters, navies from 11 African nations, the United Kingdom and United States participated in Cutlass Express 2024 (CE24).

Djibouti, Kenya and the Seychelles hosted the annual maritime security exercise in late February and early March. Seychellois President Wavel Ramkalawan was a guest of honor at the opening ceremony.

The event, held primarily in the Western Indian Ocean, was sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) and the U.S. 6th Fleet.

“This exercise shows our mutual and unwavering commitment to ensuring maritime safety and security in the region,” said Brig. Michael Rosette, chief of the Seychelles Defense Forces, during the opening ceremony. “It is through such initiatives and interactions that we continue to improve our interoperability and build stronger ties with all our friendly partners in the region.”

The first week of the exercise involved rigorous classroom sessions on how to deter sea crimes. The second week focused on tactical combat casualty care, marksmanship, at-sea maneuvers and close-combat techniques, as well as observing operations at the Regional Coordination Operations Center (RCOC) in the Seychelles.

The center coordinates regional operations to combat sea crimes with the support of regional members, including Comoros, Djibouti, France on behalf of Réunion Island, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles.

The Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center (RMIFC) in Madagascar helps the RCOC initiate and coordinate sea operations. The RMIFC focuses on strengthening maritime domain awareness and information sharing with national and other international information fusion centers.

“The RMIFC’s primary role is to analyze and detect vessels of interest and send that information to RCOC so we can take actions against them,” Capt. Sam Gontier, the RCOC’s regional director, said. “For example, if there is a vessel that we suspect or know is carrying narcotics coming this way, and the closest resources are from Seychelles and Mauritius, we’ll ask them for their support and coordinate the operations from here.”

The centers operate under the Maritime Security in Eastern & Southern Africa & Indian Ocean program that is funded by the European Union and led by the Indian Ocean Commission. The program supports the deployment of assets for regional maritime operations.

“There’s an old quote in Africa: If you want to go fast you go alone; if you want to go far, you go together,” Gontier said.

Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Tunisia each participated in CE24, as did the United Nations, Interpol and the Indian Ocean Commission.