Madagascar assessed its response to irregular maritime migration during an International Organization for Migration (IOM) simulation exercise in Mahajanga to strengthen border coordination. The three-day Simex exercise, held from July 1-3 at Mahajanga port, evaluated the country's institutional and operational capacity to manage incidents related to irregular maritime migration.
The exercise is part of the project "Creating Smarter Borders, Improving Regular and Safe Mobility Pathways and Connectivity and Integration in Africa through Digitalization." Implemented by the IOM in four countries and financed by the Japanese government with 3 million US dollars, Madagascar is among the beneficiary nations alongside Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Côte d'Ivoire. The project also contributes to operationalizing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the protocol on free movement of persons.
As the leading intergovernmental organization active in migration, the IOM promotes the concept that safe, orderly, and regular migration benefits both migrants and host societies.
The exercise mobilized thirteen national institutions to evaluate inter-institutional coordination, search and rescue capabilities, maritime security, and humanitarian response. Madagascar's northwestern coastline, extending over 1,950 kilometers, represents one of the country's most strategic and exposed maritime borders.
Irregular migration, human trafficking, and unregulated maritime crossings remain persistent challenges for the island nation. Effective responses require close coordination among multiple institutions operating under significant operational pressure and incomplete information. The exercise aimed to replicate these conditions.
"This exercise allowed us to evaluate, in practice, the capacity of Malagasy institutions to coordinate their actions during a maritime incident. This type of exercise was essential. It helped identify strengths and areas requiring additional support before a real situation tests the system. Equipment, training, and digital systems have strengthened part of Madagascar's border response. This exercise was an opportunity to see them work together," said Roger Charles Evina, Chief of Mission IOM Madagascar.