Somalia: Weekly Security and Defence
Geeska Afrika Online Managing Director, Nur Kafi, MIPIS talks to the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force
Somalia: Weekly Security and Defence Analysis – Special EU Piracy Edition
Belgium – Press Briefing Geeska Afrika Online Managing Director, Nur Kafi, MIPIS talk to the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, and has issued a renewed warning that the Somali pirates are still determined to get out to sea (Both Red Sea and Indian Ocean) and, if presented with an easy target, will attack; that could be a searies threat to the supply-lines and humanitarian operations.
Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant told Geeska Afrika Online Security Editor, “I am very concerned that seafarers and nations will lower their guard and support for counter piracy operations in the belief that the piracy threat is over,” Tarrant said in a statement. ” It is not; it is merely contained.”
Last Year, The Admiral’s similar warning comes after EU Naval Force warship Rayo located a skiff 320 nautical miles off the Somali coast. Six men were in the boat, along with equipment commonly found among pirates. Although there was not enough evidence to prosecute the suspects, the Rayo’s command returned the men to the coast — without their skiff.
While no ship has been hijacked since the chemical tanker Smyrni was seized off the Somali coast about a year ago, nine ships have been attacked. Two vessels and 54 hostages are still being held by pirates who, once again, are issuing death threats to hostages if ransoms are not paid.
“It is clear that there is no room for complacency,” Tarrant again told Geeska Afrika Online.
The Director General of the EU Military Staff, Lieutenant General Wolfgang WOSOLSOBE, who attended the Defense and Security Symposium also added:
“EU Naval Force continues to protect vulnerable shipping against pirate attacks. Under my command the Task Force will continue to support the EU’s Comprehensive Approach by working with EUCAP Nestor and other EU initiatives in the region.”
The following opinion were requested again to re-publish, according to the voices of our readers, Geeska Afrika Online. It was an Interesting article, but I didn’t see a single mention of the piracy that’s been rampant off the coast of Nigeria. Yes, the case of Somali pirates which is and are a serious problem, but piracy off of Africa’s west coast is horrific as well to mitigate and open west-Africa supply lines.
The Somali diplomat and writer Ambassador Abukar Arman, wrote 2009, Make no mistake: The proliferation of piracy in the Somali coast is a serious problem — not only for the international community but for Somalia in general, and more specifically, for the current Islamist-led government of national unity. After all, Islamic law has zero tolerance for banditry, whether sea-based or land-based.
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Source: www.geeskaafrika.com
