Strengthening Maritime Security and Police Reform: Seychelles and United Kingdom Deepen Collaboration
During a recent visit to Seychelles, Lord Collins of Highbury, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office Minister for Africa accompanied by the British High Commissioner Mr. Jeffery Glekin were welcomed by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Charles Fonseka, at the Regional Fusion and Law Enforcement Centre for Safety and Security at Sea (REFLECS3) Centre at Bois de Rose. The discussions focused on the strong collaboration between Seychelles and the United Kingdom on maritime security, the ongoing reform of the Seychelles Police Force and migration and border control. Lord Collins was also briefed on the vital roles of the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) and the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC) in combating illicit maritime activities. The briefing reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation between Seychelles, the UK, and regional partners in ensuring maritime security.
Seychelles continues to deepen its valued partnership with the United Kingdom, particularly in the area of maritime security. With its long history of maritime leadership, the UK, alongside Seychelles, plays a crucial role in safeguarding key maritime routes and enhancing global maritime security.
In response to the resurgence of Somali piracy since November 2023, Director of NISCC Captain Gerald Wong-Pool explained that Seychelles remains vigilant, emphasizing the need for sustained international cooperation to address these threats. The rise in piracy endangers seafarers and threatens global trade routes, potentially disrupting supply chains. As a key regional actor, Seychelles reaffirms its’ commitment to working with partners like the UK to strengthen maritime security and enhance its response capabilities. Additionally, Seychelles advocates for a comprehensive approach to securing the Red Sea, focusing on piracy as well as broader regional instability, through enhanced information-sharing, coordinated naval patrols, and capacity-building for regional actors.
In a significant achievement, Seychelles has been endorsed as the incoming Chair of the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities (CGIMA) during the 2nd plenary meeting in September 2024. Seychelles highly values the UK’s participation in the Contact Group, represented by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). This endorsement reflects the UK’s strong commitment to burden-sharing in international maritime security. Minister Fonseka expressed how Seychelles looks forward to working closely with the UK and other partners to address evolving maritime threats, enhance information sharing, and promote capacity-building initiatives through the Djibouti Code of Conduct
The Deputy Commissioner of the Seychelles Police Force Mr. Francis Songoire acknowledged the UK’s unwavering support in advancing police reforms, which are essential to fostering a safer society. The collaboration between the two nations has greatly enhanced the Seychelles Police Force’s ability to address critical policing issues.
During his visit, Lord Collins commended Seychelles on the collaborative work done with international partners to police the vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He emphasized that securing legal frameworks and enforcing maritime laws are critical to protecting Seychelles' borders and strengthening its security. The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary of the Immigration & Civil Status Department Mr. Allain Volcere and Executive Director of the Ministers Secretariat Mrs. Mastura Shah-Faure.