EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Commander visits to Mogadishu to foster political dialogue between EU and Somali Authorities

Nov 30, 2020 - 12:20
Mogadishu, 9th – 13th November 2020

Operation Commander Major General Antonio Planells Palau travelled to Mogadishu between the 9th and 13th of November 2020 to participate in the Political Dialogue between the EU and Somali authorities on 11th November 2020.  Besides his direct involvement in the conversations, General Planells met with representatives of the Maritime Domain on the 10th and 12th to uplift efforts and enhance Somali maritime security actors.

During a joint meeting with Deputy HoM EUCAP and the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), its Deputy Director expressed the desire for an explicit relationship with EU NAVFOR for Search and Rescue missions, whilst turning towards EUCAP to seek support in capacity building terms.  The OpCdr outlined that in case of an emergency, EU NAVFOR would use all its tools to provide support in a Search and Rescue situation.

EU NAVFOR and EUCAP presented a combined approach to the Director of the Presidential Office of the Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Ms Muntaziyah M JIMALE outlining the ongoing support to the Somali Maritime Security Architecture and informing on anticipated changes in the mandate.

The Political Dialogue sessions focused on the relationship between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States on constitutional reforms, elections, security sector reforms, the Somalia Transition Plan, economic reforms and the socio-economic impact of COVID – 19, as well as Human Rights and the Freedom of Press. The Somali Delegation was led by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and various Cabinet Ministers in representation of the Federal States. On security, discussions were dominated by the Somali Transition Plan with EU representatives highlighting its relevance for the future support of Somalia. It is worth noting that maritime security is anticipated to be subject to the STP.

EU partners (EU Delegation to Somalia, EUCAP Somalia, EUTM-Somalia) welcomed the announced mandate adjustments and it was agreed to increase the tempo of interactions between EU NAVFOR and notably EUCAP and the EU Delegation of Somalia at staff level in order to identify opportunities for combined activities and complementarity in approach.

General Planells intervened in the Political Dialogue, outlining the importance of the maritime domain, informing on the mandate extension and anticipated adjustments and calling upon the Somali authorities to increase the efforts to enhance the countries maritime security architecture.