EASF Launches Pre-Exercise Activities for First Maritime Command Post Exercise in Djibouti

Djibouti City, October 3, 2025 - The Eastern African Standby Force (EASF) today launched pre-exercise activities for its inaugural Maritime Command Post Exercise (MCPX), codenamed Bahari Salama 1, in the Republic of Djibouti.

 The full exercise is scheduled to begin on October 7, 2025, and will simulate a maritime crisis scenario involving the fictional coastal state of Carana, located along the Red Sea. The scenario calls for a multinational response to a complex maritime security threat, reflecting real-world challenges in the Eastern Africa region.

Bahari Salama 1 is designed around five core operational themes: counter-piracy, counter-illicit trafficking, counter-illegal fishing, counter-maritime terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The aim is to enhance the readiness, coordination, and interoperability of EASF Member States’ maritime, military, police, and civilian components.

During the exercise, participants will establish and operate a Mission Headquarters, a Maritime Task Force, and supporting military, police, and civilian elements. These teams will plan and execute coordinated responses in line with the African Standby Force (ASF) framework, the Djibouti Code of Conduct, and Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, which promotes the role of regional bodies in maintaining international peace and security.

The overarching objective is to strengthen regional maritime cooperation and improve operational capacity in addressing security threats in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Specific goals include enhancing joint planning, logistics coordination, legal compliance, and lessons learned from previous exercises.