EUCAP Nestor donates vehicles, equipment to Somali Coast Guard
The European Union capacity building initiative EUCAP Nestor has donated several 4×4 vehicles and IT and communications equipment to the Somali Coast Guard in order to enhance its maritime security capabilities off the Horn of Africa.
The IT and communications equipment, 25 computers, 30 GPSs and six Nissan vehicles were handed over to the Coast Guard on March 15 during a ceremony at the EUCAP Nestor compound in Mogadishu, and was attended by EUCAP Nestor’s Head of Mission, Etienne de Poncins and the Head of Country Office Somalia, Pierre-Aimé Riccio.
Also in attendance was the National Security Advisor of the President of Somalia, General Abdirahman Sheikh Issa, the Chief of Defence Forces, General Dahir Adan Elmi and the Head of Somali Coast Guard, Admiral Nurey. The Commander of the EU’s Military Training Mission in Somalia, General Antonio Maggi, as well as representatives of the EU Naval Force -Operation Atalanta- Somalia participated in the ceremony. Both EU sister Missions contributed to the donation.
“Somalia has a long coastline that needs to be protected. This is not the first time that EUCAP Nestor has supported the Somali Coast Guard and we greatly appreciate your continued support,” Sheikh Issa said.
“In the past 12 months, EUCAP Nestor, assisted by the EU Naval Force and other partners, has provided navigation, basic maritime skills and maritime investigation training in Djibouti to officers and recruits of the Somali Coast Guard from all over Somalia. The delivery of the vehicles and IT equipment, such as computers and GPS devices, will help to enhance the on-land capability and IT connectivity of the Coast Guard,” de Poncins said during the ceremony.
The EU Naval Force flagship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, helped to deliver two of the vehicles via their Landing Craft Utility vehicles and EU Training Mission staff helped to provide security at the delivery site. EUTM Somalia has trained over 4 000 Somali soldiers from the Somali National Army.
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