Germany has taken command of the EU Naval Force Somalia counter-piracy dubbed ‘Operation Atalanta’ and will hold the mantle for the next 5 months under the able command of Rear Admiral Jan Kaack.
Kaack takes over from Italian Navy’s Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri and will command from his flagship FGS Bayern.
Summary:
In a colorful handover ceremony attended by the German State Secretary Markus Grubel in Djibouti, Germany took over command of the ‘Operation Atalanta’- EU Naval Force Somalia from Italy.
The operation will now be headed by Germany Navy’s Rear Admiral Jan Kaack from his flagship FGS Bayern taking over from Italian Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri.
Kaack will oversee and continue implementing the Operation Atalanta’s core tasks which include:
- Protecting merchant vessels carrying World Food Program (WFP) humanitarian aid for the Somali people from pirate attacks
- Deterring acts of piracy
- Monitoring fishing activities off the coast of Somalia
- Additionally upon request, the naval warships will support other EU missions and organizations like UN to strengthen maritime security and capacity in the region.
Speaking about his command Rear Admiral Kaack lauded the efforts by the UE naval force in curbing piracy evidenced by no pirate attacks recently and pledged to ensure the current status was maintained as well as improved maritime security at the Horn of Africa region.
Germany’s State Secretary, Markus Grubel also visited German soldiers based in Djibouti and held length bilateral talks with the EU Ambassador HE Joseph Silva and the Deputy Commander of European Union Naval Force headquarters in Northwood, Rear Admiral Jonas Wikström
Moreover he held bilateral talks with Djiboutian government officials in a move that will see increased cooperation between the two countries especially on the military front. Germany is increasing its military cooperation in the region and subsequently Grubel met military representatives of other nations based in Djibouti.
The Horn of Africa region has been facing a lot of challenges most posted by the al Qaeda affiliated Al Shabaab who have their base in Somalia and to which Djibouti is troop contributing country to the AU forces peacekeeping mission.
