An important milestone in India’s continuous maritime outreach to Africa was reached on April 17, 2025, when the Indian Navy’s offshore patrol ship, INS Sunayna, landed at Nacala Port in Mozambique as part of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR mission.
The Government of India initiated the SAGAR project (Security and Growth for All in the Region) to promote maritime cooperation, capacity building, and regional security among littoral governments in the Indian Ocean. This deployment is closely related to the larger SAGAR initiative.
In order to improve interoperability and address common maritime security issues like piracy, illegal trafficking, and unregulated fishing, naval personnel from India and ten African countries, including Mozambique, gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the first Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME 25) exercise, which INS Sunayna participated in.
With a concentration on tabletop discussions, command post exercises, seamanship, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, and search and rescue drills, the AIKEYME exercise included both harbour and sea phases.
INS Sunayna will engage in a number of cooperative initiatives with the Mozambique Navy while on dock in Nacala. Along with community outreach initiatives like yoga classes, ship visits for local schoolchildren and the Indian diaspora, interschool marine awareness tests, and guided tours for military cadets, these also involve collaborative training in VBSS drills, firefighting, and damage management.
To promote goodwill and marine camaraderie between the two navies, a deck reception is also planned. Mozambican navy personnel will board INS Sunayna for cooperative surveillance of Mozambique’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) when the port visit is over, emphasising the region’s shared commitment to maritime security and enhancing operational synergy.
With 44 navy personnel from nine friendly foreign countries—including Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa—boarding INS Sunayna, the operation also included a multinational crew. This demonstrates India’s desire to forge enduring alliances and strengthen trust across African maritime forces, particularly as China’s sway over the region increases.
The SAGAR mission and the deployment of INS Sunayna highlight India’s position as the Indian Ocean Region’s first responder and preferred security partner. In keeping with India’s goal of inclusive growth and stability for all Indian Ocean countries, the program not only strengthens bilateral ties with Mozambique but also advances humanitarian outreach, capacity building, and collective regional security.
