European Union Capacity Building Mission
in Somalia
EUCAP Somalia
Last Updated: 21 March 2021
Our 2021 -2022 Mandate
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
“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
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 / Chief of Unit (CRC):
Ms. Anu Virtanen
press@eucap-som.eu.