Tanzania is set to strengthen its maritime security with a €15.8 million European Union-funded initiative, Safe Seas for Africa, aimed at enhancing governance, enforcement, and economic opportunities along its Indian Ocean coastline.
The program, supporting eastern and southern African coastal nations, targets five key threats: piracy, drug and arms trafficking, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and marine pollution.
EU Ambassador to Tanzania Christine Grau emphasized the initiative’s role in building a sustainable, regionally led maritime security system.
“Safe Seas for Africa empowers Tanzania to protect its maritime resources, combat sea-based crime, and lead regional security efforts,” she said. The program goes beyond providing ships and radars, focusing on capacity building for institutions like the Tanzania Ports Authority, navy, and customs service.
Tanzania, a vital trade hub, faces growing challenges from smuggling, illegal fishing, and pollution, which threaten coastal communities and economic stability. Over 90% of regional drug smuggling now occurs by sea, while illegal fishing costs hundreds of millions annually. The initiative provides tailored technical assistance, equipment, and training to enhance surveillance and investigation capabilities. It also supports legal reforms for harmonized prosecution across the region, termed “legal finish.”
To boost coordination, Tanzania’s National Joint Operations Centre will link with regional hubs in Madagascar and Seychelles, enabling real-time intelligence and joint operations with international forces like the EU Naval Force. A Tanzanian legal expert involved in the reforms noted, “Maritime security is about governance and cooperation. Our ocean’s future depends on it.”
Despite progress, Grau urged Tanzania to deploy liaison officers to regional centers and engage local communities to detect threats like oil spills.
