Indian Ocean nations meet to boost disaster management cooperation

Indian Ocean nations are convening in Réunion for the first regional conference of directors responsible for natural disaster management and emergency services. The meeting brings together representatives from Mauritius, Madagascar, the Comoros, and the Seychelles, alongside the Indian Ocean Commission (COI) and the French Development Agency (AFD).

The conference aims to strengthen collective preparedness and mutual assistance in the face of cyclones, floods, and volcanic crises. Participants are working to identify common needs regarding training, operational exercises, and capacity building.

The discussions draw on recent experiences, such as the response to Cyclone Gezani in Madagascar in February 2026, where Réunion deployed a reconnaissance and expertise element (ERE) to assist on the ground. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve regional security cooperation, supported by the Indian Ocean Academy.