The Indian Ocean Commission (, COI) is an intergovernmental organisation that links five African Indian Ocean nations — i.e. Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion (France), and Seychelles. There are also eight observers as of August 2025 — i.e. China, the European Union, La Francophonie, the Order of Malta, India, Japan, the United Nations and South Korea.

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

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

In 1986 — Comoros and Réunion (France), joined the organisation.

In April 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the integration of Mayotte as a member of the IOC, advocating for a "pragmatic approach" with the Comoros.

On 17 April 2025, South Korea became the eighth observer member of the organisation.

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Objectives and areas of intervention

As an intergovernmental organisation 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 2018 the IOC launched its Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean region (IFC-IOR) in Madagascar, and the Seychelles Regional Centre for Operational Coordination (RCOC) to conduct joint operations as the executive arm of the Maritime Security Architecture (MSA) of the Western Indian Ocean. In September 2022, IFC-IOR and RCOC conducted their first joint operations with EUNAVFOR.

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.

See also

  • Indian Ocean Rim Association

Notes

References

  • World Bank Regional Institutions