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Our History

Inception
1967

The Maritime Organization for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (MOESNA) traces its origins to 1967, when the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia established the Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping (ISCOS). The aim was to address the negative impact of unregulated maritime freight costs and to provide technical advice to Member States on ocean-based shipping and maritime matters.

Establishment of a Secretariat
1974

From 1967, the Organization operated on ad hoc basis until 1974 when a permanent Secretariat was established, hosted by the republic of Kenya in the Coastal city of Mombasa. The Secretariat main function was to facilitate the implementation of the Organization’s programmes. The Organization operated primarily as an Intergovernmental Platform providing technical advisory and support to its member states with limited engagement with the private sector and other maritime stakeholders.

Transformation of Mandate
2006

In 2006, an amendment to the Organization’s Governing Protocol expanded its mandate to include multimodal freight logistics. This transformation allowed Broader engagement in national maritime sectors, Inclusion of private sector in the scope and activities of the Organization, focus on inland waterways for Intra regional trade and the adoption of a more integrated, collaborative approach to freight logistics.

Increased Awareness and Strategic Relevance
2010–2018

With the signing of the African Maritime Transport Charter 2010 coupled by the increase in common challenges facing regional states in International Maritime Trade and the rising awareness about the critical importance of the Shipping to African Economies, the Organization’s activities attracted more Interest from other regional states some of whom expressed their Interest to join Membership of the Maritime body.

Opening of Membership to the ESNA Region
2019

At the 6th Meeting of the then ISCOS Assembly of Ministers, the founding Member States signified their readiness to work with other regional states and opened the Organization membership to the States in the Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (ESNA) mainly connected through the Indian Ocean and its adjoining bodies. This marked a significant step towards the enhancement of the Organization’s geographical mandate and attainment of greater collaboration is the Shipping and Maritime sector.

Regional Collaboration and Repositioning
2022

During the 1st Assembly of Ministers responsible for Shipping and Maritime matters of the States in the Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa held in Entebbe Republic of Uganda, regional states acknowledged the growing complexity of maritime issues, the shared nature of maritime bodies, facilities, multinational service providers and overseas trading partners, but decried the lack of unity of purpose in the face of common challenges and aspirations and agreed in principle to use ISCOS’ platform to enhance their collaboration in the rapidly changing and capital intensive Shipping and Maritime Sector. Ministers also acknowledged the need to rebrand the Organization to better reflect its expanded geographical scope and evolving mandate.

Rebranding to MOESNA
2024

At the 3rd Meeting of Ministers responsible for Shipping and Maritime Affairs of the States in the Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa -including the Indian Ocean States -held in Nairobi Kenya the new name of the Organization, the Maritime Organization for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (MOESNA) was officially launched. MOESNA embodies a commitment of Member States—linked through the Western Indian Ocean, South Atlantic, and Red Sea—to tackle their complex maritime challenges collaboratively, build synergies across Member States, advance their collective maritime and shipping interests and set the path for the transformation of Africa Maritime Sector. This is aligned with the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter (2010) and the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050, both of which encourage regional cooperation and bloc formation to address shared maritime goals.

Steady Membership Growth
2023-2025

In line with the commitment to collaboration, Regional states are at various levels of formalizing their Membership to the MOESNA with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of Burundi, the Republic of Botswana, the Republic of Malawi, and the Republic of Mozambique having so far completed their processes and joined the States of Kenya, Tanzania Uganda and Zambia in Membership to the Organization.