European Union Capacity Building Mission
in Somalia
EUCAP Somalia
Last Updated: 21 March 2021
Our 2021 -2022 Mandate
The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) is a civilian crisis management mission that supports the development of Somali maritime security and wider police capacity.
The Mission was launched in July 2012 as EUCAP NESTOR to support countries in the Horn of Africa to develop maritime security. In December 2016, the Council of the European Union decided that the Mission will focus only on Somalia, including Somaliland, and subsequently it was renamed to EUCAP Somalia.
In December 2020, the Council of European Union extended the Mission’s mandate until 2022, with the Mission continuing to focus on assistance to the maritime sector, by supporting the development of the Somali coast guard functions and maritime security, while alongside this increasing support to wider police development. The mission’s budget for its 2021-2022 mandate is 86.78 million Euros.
EUCAP Somalia is based in Mogadishu with field offices in Hargeisa (Somaliland), Garowe (Puntland), Mogadishu, a sub-field-office in Berbera, and a back-office in Nairobi, Kenya.
Our Work
EUCAP Somalia works in partnership with Somali authorities to rebuild Somalia’s maritime law-enforcement and enhance police capability. The Mission works with the Federal Government and Federal Member States to define Somalia’s Maritime Security Architecture, and improve its maritime legal framework and law-enforcement capacity. It does the latter through supporting the development of coast guard functions, which contribute to counter piracy, human trafficking, smuggling and illegal fishing as well as many other maritime security issues.
The Mission also provides assistance to police development through reinforcement of Somali Police Force capabilities, including its interaction with the criminal justice chain, and enhancing the interoperability between Somali Security Forces in support of the Somali Transition Plan. The Somali Transition Plan was developed by the Federal Government of Somalia and its partners to guide the transfer of security responsibility from AMISOM to Somali Security Forces, which includes supporting civilian rule of law in areas liberated from Al Shabab. The Somali Police Force plays an important role in ensuring a safe and secure environment for the population in these areas.
Three pillars of EUCAP Somalia
- Reinforce the maritime police units in and around the four main Somali ports (Mogadishu, Berbera, and Bosaso and Kismayo).
- Contribute to the development of the Somali Coast Guard functions, and continue to advocate for the importance of maritime security for the development of the Blue Economy.
- Support to broader police development, with special reference to the implementation of the Somali Transition Plan, and the enhancement and restructuring of the Somali Police Force, in coordination with EU funded activities.
Head of Mission Chris Reynolds
Council of the European Union appointed Chris Reynolds (Irish) EUCAP Somalia’s Head of Mission on 19 September 2019. In January 2019 he was appointed as Deputy Head of Mission and Chief of Staff and in 2016-2017 he served in the Mission as Head of Operations. Mr. Reynolds’ maritime career started in the Irish Navy in 1979 as an Executive (Deck) Officer. Having served in all seagoing positions on board various Irish Naval vessels he joined the Irish Coast Guard in 1997 and was appointed Director of the Coast Guard in August 2007. Mr. Reynolds was invited to take the Chair of the Heads of the Coast Guards of the EU for 2012-2013 and of the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum in 2017.
“Our goal is to assist Somalia in establishing effective maritime law enforcement capabilities and support to broader police development, which will also contribute to the growth and sustainability of the Blue Economy.”
Chris Reynolds, Head of Mission
EU in Somalia
EUCAP Somalia is part of the EU’s integrated approach to Somalia, which comprises of diplomatic efforts, development support, humanitarian aid as well as engagement in the field of law enforcement and rule of law. EUCAP Somalia works in close cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Somalia and two other operations under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP): The counter-piracy focused EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta ,and the military training mission EUTM Somalia.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service. It helps the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – carry out the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The EEAS’ Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), based in Brussels, is the permanent operational headquarters responsible for the operational conduct of EUCAP Somalia and all the other civilian CSDP missions.
CONTACT US:
Senior Press and Public Information Officer:
Ms. Valeria Aldighieri
press@eucap-som.eu