EUCAP Nestor – Somalia Office
PRESS RELEASE Nr 21/2015
27 May 2015
Maritime security workshop held in Mogadishu
On May 26th 
EUCAP Nestor and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) co-hosted the second Workshop on maritime cooperation for maritime security and law enforcement agencies currently deployed along the Somali coast.
The leaders of maritime security agencies of the Federal Governement of Somalia (FGS Coast-Guard), Puntland (Puntland Maritime Police Forces, Bosaso Port Police), Galmudug (Galmudug Coast Guard), Middle Shabelle, Interim South-west Administration (ISWA) and Interim Jubaland Administration (Kismayo Port Police) participated in this event.
International community representatives from UNSOM, FAO, UNODC, Ocean Beyond Piracy (OBP), EUNAVFOR, EUTM Somalia and the Embassies of Japan and the UK were also present.
This workshop marks the follow up of previous discussions involving Somalia’s maritime actors held in Djibouti in March (see press release Nr13/2015).
The aim of the meeting was to continue enhancing and strengthening knowledge, understanding, cooperation and cohesion among the different maritime-security entities in Somalia.
Maritime security is a common concern that requires collective action and this kind of events facilitated by EUCAP Nestor are a step forward in this direction. A better understanding among Somali security agencies on possible synergies in terms of cooperation, communication equipment sharing and operations marks a step forward for the development of best practicesand enhanced ability to confront common challenges, in particular fight against piracy.
During the meeting, the Minister of Fishery and Marine Resources, H.E. Mohamed Omar Ceymooy, underlined the importance for the Somali maritime actors of coordinating and working together “for improved maritime security for the whole country”, especially considering the challenges that the crisis situation in Yemen as well as illegal fishing have brought to Somalia.
All Somali participants expressed their growing concern noting the constant rise of Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Somali waters.
Finally they committed to continue discussion and marked their appreciation to EUCAP Nestor for having provided for a unique and relevant forum of dialogue on maritime security.
They adopted the final Communiqué attached.
Background
EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission, under the auspices of the Common Security and Defence Policy, which assists host countries in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region in strengthening their capacity to ensure maritime security and in particular to fight piracy.
Press and Public Information Department
CBA Centre, Mara and Ragati Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
P.O. Box 30475, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: +254 727 106 645
Email:
francesca.marretta@eucap-nestor.eu
Webpage:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/eucapnestor
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/EUCAPNESTOR
