After the Political and Security Committee of the European Union had activated this secondary executive task only in February, this is the first time that EUNAVFOR Somalia Operation ATALANTA has taken action against drug trafficking.
The commitment of the contributing countries to Atalanta, such as France in this case, allows the Operation to have a wider scope and to expand its operational means and capabilities in accordance with its mandate. This success demonstrates that Operation ATALANTA is able to carry out this fight against illegal trafficking in addition to its core tasks.
From 16th to 17th March, the OpCdr paid an official visit to Djibouti. He held meetings with the representatives of the Djiboutian authorities, EU Delegation, EU member States, military partners and ATALANTA elements. He met the Director General of National Security of Djibouti who expressed his appreciation for Operation ATALANTA, and who he awarded the EU CSDP medal on behalf of EU HR/VP Borrell. On the military side, the OpCdr discussed the regional security situation with the Deputy Commander of the US Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HoA) and the Commanding Officer of the Japanese base.
The Support Element ATALANTA (SEA) and the ESP Orion P-3 detachment updated the OpCdr about the local state of affairs and the impact of the UNSCR expiry on the quality of Intel products.
It was an excellent opportunity of reassuring all the parties on ATALANTA’S future and gathering support from relevant partners in Djibouti. The Head of EUD and the French ambassador recommended approaching the Djiboutian authorities to lobby ATALANTA’s position to the Federal Government of Somalia. The HoEUD suggested also considering ATALANTA’s participation in the EU – Djibouti Political Dialogue on 6th of April.
Also on 16th of March, the Chief of Staff briefed the Politico-Military Group (PMG) in detail about the short and mid-term consequences of the expiry of UNSCR 2608. ATALANTA is no longer be able to deploy an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) on board of WFP chartered vessel that deliver humanitarian aid to Somalia. In its remaining wide Area of Operations, however, ATALANTA will continue to fulfil its missions, providing Maritime Security in the Western Indian Ocean.
On 17th of March, the Chief of Staff attended the Force Generation Conference, during which the Troop Contributing Countries renewed their commitment, showing their trust in the Operation.
From 28th to 30th of March, ATALANTA’s Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff travelled to Bahrain and Abu Dhabi for meetings with the Deputy Commanders of the United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), and the OpCdr and FCdr of EMASOH – Operation AGENOR. Topics discussed were the current and future cooperation and ways to enhance coordination and exchange of classified information.
During his visit to Djibouti from 16th to 17th of March, the OpCdr presided the handover-takeover ceremony from the 39th to the 40th Rotation. The Italian Rear Admiral Fabrizio Bondi relieved in command the Portuguese Commodore Joao Pereira. At the same time, the flagship function changed from ESPS Canarias to ITS Bergamini. The ceremony was also attended by the Commanding Officers of five French navy vessels that were or are supporting Operation ATALANTA.
On 22nd of March, Rear Admiral Bondi met Rear Admiral Fayard, Operation Commander of the EU Member State-led EMASOH Operation AGENOR. They discussed ways of increasing the effective cooperation to achieve a better Maritime Situational Awareness in the respective Areas of Operations. The mutual support provided by respective naval assets in the last period was taken as an example to follow in the future.
On 25th of March, ESPS Canarias completed the transfer of the dhow Al Houssam FI to the Somali port of Bosaso (Somali Federal State of Puntland), after towing her for 18 hours. During a friendly from the boat approach, the crew of Canarias learned that the dhow has been without propulsion and communications for two days. After coordination with the operation command, which involved also the Field Office of the CSDP sister mission EUCAP-Somalia in Garowe, it was decided to tow the Al Houssam FI to Bosaso, where the local port police took her over for the last couple of hundred meters.
Under the UN Convention Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Convention for Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) the Canarias was obliged to render assistance to the dhow, and thus allowed to enter Somali territorial waters.
Beside the Force Command flagship, the Spanish frigate ESPS Canarias succeeded by ITS Bergamini on 17th of March, and the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft CISNE, these assets have temporarily reinforced the Operation in Direct Support, i.e. under control of the Force Commander, or in Associated Support, when the asset remains under national command:
Italian frigate ITS Bergamini (in Direct Support from 06. until 16.03.2022), Spanish frigate ESPS Canarias (in Direct Support since 17.03.2022), French LHD FS Mistral (in Associated Support from 06. until 16.03.2022; in Direct Support from 17. until 21.03.2022), French frigates FS Guepratte (in Associated Support from 10. until 18.03.2022) and FS Courbet (in Associated Support from 06. until 16.03.2022; in Direct Support from 17. until 21.03.2022), and the minehunter FS Orion (in Associated Support since 26.02.2022);
