Source: Bruxelles2
The questions on the post-Atalanta operation have arisen. Speaking at the SecDef13, Rear Admiral Eric Dupont, Deputy Commander of EUNAVFOR Atalanta, looks back on the success of the mission, but also suggested that a conclusion too early in the operation could begin to destablise Somalia.
Piracy contained, not removed
“Atalanta helped stem the growth of piracy”¬†off the Somali coast.¬†But piracy is¬†”not so far removed,”¬†he warned.¬†Finishing the mission at the end of 2014 (as expected) may therefore be dangerous, he said.¬†”Private investors in organized crime”¬†would benefit from this abandonment¬†”to support their activity would prove a significant windfall.”
Fragile situation
“The internal political situation in Somalia or potential for organized crime”¬†are factors weakening the area, he said.¬†And¬†”EUNAVFOR is a key”¬†to success in stabilizing the area.¬†Keep a maritime action area, along with a political action and capacity building on the ground, is therefore necessary.¬†”Only EU can do that (…) because the European Union is a political union,”¬†he said, emphasizing implicitly the different actions in the region.
NB: The mandate of the Atalanta mission ends in December 2014. But discussions have started within the European Union on a possible extension. In the region, the European Union has set up two other missions: EUTM Somalia for training Somali forces (established in Uganda and partly in Mogadishu) and EUCAP NESTOR for maritime capacity-building (based in Djibouti).
Via: http://www.oceanuslive.org/
