Indian Ocean Commission

The Indian Ocean Commission (French: Commission de l'Océan Indien, COI) is an intergovernmental organization that links African Indian Ocean nations: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion (an overseas region of France), and Seychelles.[1] There are also seven observers: China, the European Union, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie,[2][3] the Sovereign Order of Malta,[4] India, Japan and the United Nations.

Indian Ocean Commission
Commission de l'Océan Indien
Map of members (including mainland France)
AbbreviationIOC
MottoUn avenir à bâtir ensemble
("A future to build together")
Formation1982
Founded atPort Louis, Mauritius
TypeIntergovernmental organization
Membership
 Comoros
 Madagascar
 Mauritius
 Réunion (France)
 Seychelles
Official language
French
Secretary General
Vêlayoudom Marimoutou
Websitecommissionoceanindien.org

The IOC was created in 1982 in Port-Louis, Mauritius, and institutionalised in 1984 by the Victoria Agreement (Seychelles).

Historical background

The IOC was created in 1982 in Port Louis by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles.

In 1984, the General Cooperation Agreement signed in Victoria (Seychelles) institutionalized the organization.

In 1986, Comoros and France (Reunion Island), joined the organization.

In 1989, the IOC was provided with a General Secretariat. The headquarters of the IOC is located in Mauritius.

Development

Since the early 1990s, the IOC has been implementing cooperation projects in environmental management and preservation with the support of the European Union and French cooperation. Over the course of these projects, the IOC has acquired recognized expertise in the management of marine and coastal environments, fisheries and the preservation of biodiversity.

At the beginning of the 2000s, the IOC constantly advocated the specific needs of developing islands, particularly in conferences organized by the United Nations.

In September 2005, the IOC requested observer status at the UN General Assembly.

In 2016, the People's Republic of China becomes the first observer member of the organization. It is followed in 2017 by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Sovereign Order of Malta and the European Union.

In 2018, the IOC assumes the chairmanship of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) for a period of two years. In 2020, Kenya takes over the chairmanship. However, the IOC continues to serve as the secretariat of the CGPCS.

In 2019, at a ministerial retreat in Moroni (Comoros), the Moroni Declaration on the Future of the IOC is adopted. This text deals with the modernization of the IOC.

During the 34th Council of Ministers of March 6, 2020 in Seychelles, the Victoria Agreement, the founding text of the IOC, is revised.

In 2020, India, Japan and the United Nations become observer members.

The IOC's project portfolio has expanded considerably: political stability, public health, gender, mobility, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, regional connectivity (digital, air, maritime), trade negotiations, maritime security, food security and agricultural development, fisheries and fisheries surveillance, climate change mitigation, sustainable coastal zone management, waste management, use of earth observation technologies for environmental monitoring, renewable energy, culture...

The IOC has a dozen technical and financial partners, among which the European Union and the French Development Agency.

Members

Member States
States Year
Comoros 1986
France (Reunion Island) 1986
Madagascar 1982
Mauritius 1982
Seychelles 1982

Observing members
Members Joining year
People's Republic of China 2016
Order of Malta 2017
Organisation internationale de la Francophonie 2017
European Union 2017
India 2020
Japan 2020
United Nations 2020

Administration

The IOC is at the service of its Member States.

Bodies

The Council of Ministers (composed of the foreign ministers of the member countries) provides the strategic and political direction of the IOC. It is the supreme decision-making body of the organization. The chairmanship of the IOC Council of Ministers is annual and rotating (in alphabetical order of member countries).

The Committee of Permanent Liaison Officers (composed of senior officials from member states) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of these decisions.

The General Secretariat, based in Ebene, Mauritius, is responsible for implementing the decisions of the decision-making bodies. It develops and manages cooperation projects. It is responsible for mobilizing resources from the donor community.

The revised Victoria Agreement (2020) makes the Summit of Heads of State and Government a statutory body of the organization. The IOC Summit will now be held every five years to set the strategic and political direction of the organization.

Secretary-General
Member State Name Start of mandate End of mandate
 Réunion (France) Vêlayoudom Marimoutou 16 July 2020 --
 Comoros Hamadi Madi Boléro 13 July 2016 16 July 2020
 Mauritius Jean Claude de l'Estrac 12 July 2012 13 July 2016
 Seychelles Callixte d'Offay 15 July 2008 12 July 2012
 Madagascar Monique Andreas Esoavelomandroso 5 July 2004 15 July 2008
 Réunion (France) Wilfrid Bertile 12 July 2001 5 July 2004
 Comoros Caabi El-Yachroutu Mohamed 5 July 1997 12 July 2001
 Seychelles Jérémie Bonnelame 5 July 1993 5 July 1997
 Madagascar Henri Rasolondraibe 5 June 1989 05July 1993

Objectives and areas of intervention

As an intergovernmental organization of cooperation, the Indian Ocean Commission promotes peace and stability, maritime security, food security, environmental conservation, fisheries, climate change adaptation, the interests of island developing states, public health and cultural expression.

Its action is thus in line with the international frameworks to which its member states are signatories, such as the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development to 2030 and the Global Climate Agreement, among others.

In 2020, the IOC is implementing 14 cooperation projects. Over the period 2020-2025, it will manage a total project budget of approximately 130 million euros.

  1. "IOC and the EU". European External Action Service. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  2. Bagchi, Indrani (6 March 2020). "India accepted as observer in Indian Ocean Commision [sic]". Times of India. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  3. "Membres observateurs de la COI". Commission de l'océan Indien. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. "The Sovereign Order of Malta signs Cooperation Agreement with the Indian Ocean Commission". www.orderofmalta.int. Sovereign Order of Malta. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
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