The Kenya Navy has joined other Maritime Forces from nations worldwide in the Multinational Maritime Exercise Cutlass Express 2023 that commenced on March 5, 2023, with an opening ceremony at the Coast Guard Training Center in Djibouti.
Cutlass Express (CE) is an annual Maritime Exercise sponsored by US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) and conducted by United States Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) in the East African coastal regions and the West Indian Ocean.
The exercise is set to improve Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), enhance information sharing between Maritime Operation Centres, adhere to the rule of law, counter-proliferation, and interdiction to disrupt illicit maritime activities and strengthen safety and security in East Africa.
It is designed to promote national and regional security in the Western Indian Ocean, increase interoperability between the U.S., East African nations and international partners, and improve the region's combined maritime law enforcement capacity.
The two-week exercise will be conducted in Djibouti, Kenya and Mauritius, involving shore-based and at-sea training drills.
The 14 nations participating in the exercise include Canada, Comoros, Djibouti, France, Georgia, Greece, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and the United States.
On Monday, the participants were taken through a theory class on water survival, vessel boarding phases and a detailed search demonstration at the Bandari Maritime College.
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