Press statement
Somalilandsun-On March 7th, EUCAP Somalia – formerly known as EUCAP Nestor – hosted a ceremony to officially open a Field Office in Garowe, Puntland State of Somalia.
The event was also an occasion to communicate to the Puntland partners and the public about the new, broadened civilian maritime security mandate of EUCAP Somalia.
This was presented to the Puntland Authorities and the media present by the European Union External Action Service Civilian Operations Commander (CivOpsCdr), Kenneth Deane and EUCAP Somalia Head of Mission (HoM), Maria-Cristina Stepanescu.
With the occasion, a Cooperation Arrangement between the Mission and the Puntland Government, represented by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, was signed by EUCAP Somalia’s HoM and the State Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Awale.
The Vice-President of Puntland, Hon. Abdihakim Abdullahi Hajji Omar attended the event and together with CivOpsCdr ‘cut the ribbon’, marking the opening of the new Mission Field Office.
With an active presence in Mogadishu, Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Garowe (Puntland), EUCAP Somalia Field Office in Garowe will work to enhance Puntlands maritime civilian law enforcement capacity to exert effective maritime governance over its waters, reinforce the capacity to carry out fisheries inspections and enforcement, maritime search and rescue, counter smuggling, fight piracy and policing the coastal zone on land and at sea. The Field Office will support these objectives through supporting Puntland authorities in developing the necessary legislation and setting up judicial authorities and through providing the necessary mentoring, advice, training and equipment to Somali maritime civilian law enforcement entities.
“Our thoughts are very much with the Somali people at this time, when food insecurity threatens so many. EU humanitarian aid will contribute to alleviating that. On the Security and Defence side, EUCAP Somalia will continue to support a restructured Somali Maritime Security Architecture, with the aim of contributing to a stable and secure Somalia. A stable and secure Somalia means increased security for the population and the chance for it to benefit from the peace dividends”, said Kenneth Deane, during his speech.
EUCAP Somalia is a civilian EU mission, under the auspices of the Common Security and Defence Policy, which assists Somalia in strengthening its capacity to ensure maritime security.
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