EU NAVFOR has been conducting visits to key areas around the Horn of Africa in order to see how the EU integrated approach can assist.

On the 19^th of November, Force Commander Rear Admiral Alfonso Perez De Nanclares hosted the Mayor of Caluula, as well as the fishing cooperation Chairman on board EU NAVFOR flagship ESPS Castilla. The town of Caluula’s name is derived from the Somali word “lul” meaning pearl and it is located 50 kilometres west of Cape Guardafui, at the extremity of the Horn of Africa.

The importance of such meetings is for EU NAVFOR to continue to understand the key maritime issues along the coast of Somalia. With this knowledge and understanding the EU’s multi-agency or ‘integrated approach’ of maritime development can start to help with a collective aim is to tackle both the symptoms and root causes of piracy. Recent success has seen the development of fishing industries that provide income that in turn supports local prosperity.

Castilla continues to transit the area as part of baseline counter-piracy operations following focused operations in the Southern region last month.