The inaugural edition of the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) started marking a significant step in strengthening maritime collaboration between India and African partner nations. The six-day multilateral naval exercise, hosted in Dar-es-Salaam, is co-organised by India and Tanzania, and aims to foster regional maritime security and interoperability.

Coinciding with the opening of the exercise, Indian Navy’s INS Sunayna, designated as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, arrived at Dar-es-Salaam on Saturday carrying 44 naval personnel from nine partner nations, including Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa.

In a statement, the Indian Navy said, “AIKEYME aims to develop collaborative solutions to common regional maritime challenges… and enhance interoperability and synergise combined operations among the maritime forces of partner nations.” The initiative also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR vision—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.

Ahead of the event, INS Chennai (destroyer) and INS Kesari [Landing Ship Tank (Large)] docked in Dar-es-Salaam, setting the stage for the harbour phase of the exercise. The inauguration ceremony was co-hosted aboard INS Chennai along with the Tanzanian Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF). A ceremonial guard and a band played the national anthems of participating nations, reflecting the spirit of unity and collaboration.

The harbour phase of AIKEYME-25, running from April 13–15, features table-top and command post exercises focused on anti-piracy operations, information sharing, and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) training. The Indian Navy has also lined up joint seamanship drills and cultural exchanges including sports fixtures, yoga sessions, and ship visits to engage with the local population.

The sea phase, scheduled from April 16–18, will intensify focus on maritime operational drills to improve real-time cooperation and tactical coordination between the navies.

Meanwhile, INS Sukanya, another Indian naval asset under the IOS SAGAR mission, will depart from Dar-es-Salaam on April 15 to continue its journey to Nacala, Mozambique, further extending India’s maritime outreach in the region.

Through AIKEYME, India is not only boosting maritime preparedness in the Indian Ocean Region but also reaffirming its commitment to being a net security provider and dependable partner to African nations.