MOMBASA, Kenya (Nov. 10, 2026) — Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 representatives met with national experts from 13 countries to strengthen maritime security in eastern Africa at the Regional Maritime Security Strategy Workshop in Mombasa, Kenya, Nov. 2-6.

The five-day workshop enabled subject matter experts to review new strategies and assess shared risks under the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment.

“No country can tackle maritime security challenges alone,” said Royal Canadian Navy Cmdr. Melissa Desjardins, acting commander of CTF 154. “Sharing information and coordinating our efforts gives us a clearer picture of what is happening at sea and helps us respond together… to make the region’s waters safer.”

Participants identified ways for countries to work together, strengthen their maritime security capabilities, improve monitoring of maritime activity and coordinate responses to cross-border threats.

They also developed a regional risk register and proposals for a combined vessel registry to improve information-sharing and help identify suspicious maritime activity, including piracy and smuggling.

CTF 154 provides maritime security training to help partner nations strengthen their capabilities and work together.

During the workshop, Desjardins met with Brig Gen. M.S. Shemote, fleet commander of the Kenyan Navy, who is slated to take command of CTF 154 in January 2027. During their meeting, they discussed the task force’s future direction, handover priorities and two planned multinational maritime security exercises.

CMF, headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet, is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with 47 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at sea. It promotes security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.