France has officially signed the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC-JA) a major regional framework aimed at combating piracy, armed robbery against ships, and other maritime crimes in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. The agreement marks France’s growing commitment to enhancing maritime safety, cooperation, and capacity-building across the region.
France Becomes the 19th Signatory to the DCoC-JA
Her Excellency Mrs. Marine de Carné de Trécesson de Coëtlogon, France’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), formally deposited the instrument of accession with Ms. Dorota Lost-Sieminska, Director of IMO’s Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, during a ceremony at IMO Headquarters in London on 11 November.
With this step, France becomes the 19th Signatory State to the Jeddah Amendment, joining nations committed to strengthening maritime security, improving information sharing, and supporting initiatives that counter human trafficking, illegal trade, and port and ship security challenges.
Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Combating Maritime Crime
The Jeddah Amendment builds on the original Djibouti Code of Conduct adopted in 2009, which was initially focused on piracy and armed robbery at sea. Since 2017, its scope has expanded to address a broader range of maritime crimes including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, arms and drug trafficking, illegal wildlife trade, human trafficking, crude oil theft, and the illegal dumping of toxic waste.
Signatory States apply the IMO’s “whole-of-government” approach by forming national maritime security committees, developing risk registers, and drafting coordinated national strategies. The 8th High-Level Meeting of DCoC-JA Signatories, held in Mauritius from 12–14 November, focuses on strengthening operational coordination, sharing maritime crime updates, and enhancing joint actions at sea.
France’s accession to the Jeddah Amendment reinforces global and regional efforts to ensure maritime safety and environmental protection in one of the world’s most strategically significant sea lanes. By joining this coalition of 19 nations, France contributes to a stronger, more unified approach against piracy and transnational maritime crimes promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development across the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.
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Source: IMO
