From August 25th to 30th, EUCAP Nestor Somalia Office Maritime and legal experts conducted mission activities in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa and the city of Berbera.
Maritime
In the framework of the Mentoring Teaching and Training programme – MTT – coordinated in Somaliland by EUCAP Nestor Senior Maritime Adviser Marco Hekkens, a 3-day MTT activity for Somaliland young Coast Guard Officers was organized between 26 – 28 August.
The opening ceremony of this event was performed by the Somaliland Minister of Interior, Ali Mohammed Waran. In his passionate speech, by welcoming EUCAP Nestor as a “credible actor”, the Minister defined the mentoring of young officers “an investment in the future” of his Country.
“EUCAP Nestor has shown determination and persistency in working with the Somaliland Coast Guard”, said, in summary, Mr. Waran.
The MTT, attended by 19 officers in their 20s with the addition of an officer in his 70s, aimed at providing foundation knowledge of maritime subjects. Among other, the student-officers attending the EUCAP Nestor training achieved a better understanding of the so-called Coast Guard Functions such as border controlling, search and rescue, countering illegal fishing, and surveillance.
“I believe I got a better understanding of the CG function as a Somaliland Coast Guard junior
officer” stated one student, Junior Coast Guard Officer Mohammed Youssuf, “but now after the
EUCAP Nestor mentoring I become revitalized. You will see and reap the fruits of the tree you
have planted”, he added to his Mr Hekkens at the end of the 3-day activity.
The young Somaliland trainees show eagerness in continuing the training programme with EUCAP Nestor. “This is all theory, when do we get practical training?” Captain Haarwns Siciid Cali, from Zeyla Coast Guard Base, asked Marco Hekkens.
This should not come as a surprise, as when the EU mentor asked his Somaliland students what their favorite motto was, they answered: “Do the job you can do today, do not postpone till tomorrow!”
Legal
The Somaliland visit was an occasion for EUCAP one of Nestor Legal Advisors to discuss with local counterparts how the mission can contribute to the enhancement prosecutors ‘capability within the field maritime crime, and consult for planning of a training programme for judges, prosecutors and investigators in the police force.
Future trainings to be held in Somaliland were discussed. Among the topics of such mentoring, are: The Somaliland Piracy Law of 2012, handling of evidence in piracy cases and legal aspects, safety awareness for prosecutors.
Background
EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission, under the Common Security and Defence Policy, which assists countries in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean in strengthening their capacity to ensure maritime security and in particular to fight piracy.
