African maritime leaders convened in Mombasa, Kenya, for a technical workshop urging stronger coordination and preparedness as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) accelerates global negotiations on decarbonizing shipping. The meeting emphasized Africa's need to strategically position itself amidst these evolving global regulations to mitigate negative economic impacts and leverage new opportunities.

• Over 90 percent of Africa’s external trade is transported by sea, making global shipping regulation changes critical to the continent.
• Kenya’s special envoy for Climate Change, Ali Mohamed, stressed that while decarbonisation is inevitable, Africa must be prepared to benefit from the transition.
• The Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) aims to intensify coordination among member states to present a coherent negotiating posture, transforming technical complexity into "African leverage."