Seychelles clarifies involvement in US-led naval task force |20 December 2023

‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’ is to protect commercial ships from Houthi missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Seychelles’ involvement in a naval task force dubbed ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’, is mainly for the sharing of information and does not involve the deployment of physical assets.

The statement was made by Lieutenant Colonel Archil Mondon, commanding officer Special Forces Unit, of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), when answering Seychelles NATION’s enquiry.

It followed several reports in international media of the country’s involvement, after the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, announced on Monday that the United States was launching ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’, in response to “reckless Houthi attacks”, from Yemen in the Red Sea.

According to the reports, countries involved in the multinational naval task force to protect commercial ships from Houthi missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, are the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain; countries which have already pledged their commitment to fighting marine security challenges.

According to news sources, ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’, will be built upon an existing counterpiracy mission in the region known as Combined Task Force 153.

Speaking to Seychelles NATION, Lt Col. Mondon said given that Seychelles forms part of the Combined Maritime Forces, which is the world’s largest multinational naval partnership, it was normal for its name to be mentioned as part of the operation.

He added that SDF has a permanent officer at the CMF coordination centre in Bahrain, which coordinates operations for maritime protection in the region and Seychelles’ contribution in this particular operation will be mainly in relation to sharing of information.

“We are not sending any physical assets there but rather assisting with the sharing of information,” explained Lt Col Mondon.

CMF is a multi-national naval partnership, which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world's most important shipping lanes namely Red Sea, Arabian Sean, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean. It consists of 38 partner nations.

CMF was in Seychelles in July for a two-week training to enhance operational readiness for 160 participants from five nations namely Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania.

Compiled by Patrick Joubert