Personnel from EU NAVFOR units took part in a 5 km run in Djibouti on 26^th Jan 2018 to raise money for local charity groups.

Individuals from the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship ESPS Patiño, the Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft P-3 Orion detachment, the German detachment, and others from the Logistic HQ, took the opportunity to show off their sporting prowess and engage with the local community around the base in Djibouti. Local youth groups, and local citizens of Djibouti of all ages were running alongside members of the EU Operation Atalanta. The EU NAVFOR German detachment provided water and medical support to the event.

Both the men’s and women’s categories of the race were won by runners from the ESPS Patiño in the event that was organised by Caritas Djibouti and Le conseil National pour la societe civile de Balbala. The event was attended by the Djibouti representative for the Ministry of Sport, the local minister of religion and the local Islamic Society representative.

Part of the Operation Atalanta counter-piracy mission mandate is to work cooperatively with local partners, and support other EU missions and international organisations, to strengthen maritime security capacity in the region.