Personnel from 9 nations to join Indian Navy for East Africa mission

Kochi: Onboard INS Sunayna, docked at Southern Naval Command in Kochi, an unlikely friendship is growing. Clad in the colours of their nation's troops, military personnel from nine countries — Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives and Sri Lanka — are getting ready for an epic journey. They will work with men of Indian Navy to man an Indian ship, which will head to East Africa on April 5 from Karwar, as part of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar initiative.
Major O Olang of Kenyan navy will be travelling with such a diverse crew on a ship for the first time while Tanzanian Navy lieutenant JS Ngulu is eager to share the knowledge he gains from India with his fellow officers back home. Onboard Sunayna, they are learning to work as a team, dining together and sharing jokes from their homeland with their friends from across Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
During IOS Sagar mission, INS Sunayna will make port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria and Male and conduct joint surveillance of the exclusive economic zones of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius and Seychelles. The participants also plan to witness harbour phase activities of Exercise AIKEYME at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
For many of them, Kochi is a familiar place as they have undergone training here. Ngulu said it was his third visit to Kochi. "My first visit was in 2016 and I came back in 2020 for training. I learned so many things from Indian Navy. It's good for my fellow officers in Tanzanian Navy as well. I will take this knowledge to my country after this training," said Ngulu.
Olang sounded excited. "I am looking forward to the journey. Training in Kochi has been good. It is very similar to Mombasa in Kenya. It is hot back home just like here," said Olang.
Ngulu said the Navy back in Tanzania fought off the Somalian pirates and, by 2016, they were able to stop piracy. He added that India also helped in countering pirates there. Inspector SKC Rambhojun of the Mauritius National Coast Guard said that in Mauritius, they are under the Mauritius Police Force.
"We don't have a separate Navy or Army; everything is under Police. The Coast Guard runs the ships and implements all maritime laws. Most of our personnel are trained in India. It will be my first time travelling with personnel from so many countries," said Rambhojun.
Over the past 10 years, the Indian Navy has deepened its partnerships with maritime agencies of the IOR to enhance maritime security in consonance with the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). With SAGAR entering its second decade and the announcement of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR) by the Prime Minister during his visit to Mauritius in March 2025, the Indian Navy is launching its maiden initiatives of IOS Sagar and AIKEYME, which are aimed at consolidating the Indian Navy's stature as the ‘Preferred Security Partner' and ‘First Responder' in the IOR.