Indian Ocean Commission
The Indian Ocean Commission recently admitted India as the 5th observer to the group. This is expected to bolster the Indo-Pacific vision.
About the COI
The Indian Ocean Commission (COI) was created in 1982 and institutionalised in 1984 by the Victoria Agreement. It is an intergovernmental organisation aimed at strengthening the friendship among the member countries. It uses a system of rotating presidency of the member states. Its secretariat is located in Mauritius.
Members of COI
The members of the COI are Madagascar, Seychelles, Reunion (an overseas territory of France), Mauritius and Comoros. The observers to the COI are India, China, EU, Malta and the International Organisation of the Francophonie (a French speaking collective of 54 countries).
Mozambique Channel
The Mozambique Channel is one of the strategically advantageous geographical features in the Western Indian Ocean that is of significance to the COI. Before the opening of the Suez Canal, it served as the main connection between the west and the east. Recently, it has regained significance due to the tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
