Female officers from the Malagasy Navy, along with other leaders from nine Eastern African countries, gathered in Mauritius for the 2025 Women, Peace and Security (WPS) workshop. The event took place from February 3-7 and aimed to improve maritime operations by incorporating diverse perspectives.
The workshop marked the beginning of the 2025 CUTLASS EXPRESS exercise. It built on the previous year's WPS Symposium held in Madagascar and highlighted women's essential roles in maritime security. The focus was on integrating National Action Plans into practical exercises.
Among the participants were LTJG Sophie Mamintiana, the fifth female officer in Madagascar’s Navy, and LTV Nadia Randriamalaza, the first female officer in Madagascar’s Navy. They joined other pioneering women from neighboring countries.
Caleb Goddard, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Mauritius, underscored the importance of empowering women in peace and security roles. He stated, “The path to achieving true equality between men and women in military and peacebuilding roles may be long, but together, we can break barriers and create a future where women’s contributions are valued and recognized.”
Countries participating included Madagascar, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Tanzania.