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Transitional Federal Government News

01 Jan 2014

JW Fishers' Side Scan Sonars Key in Somali Port Mine Clearance

Trainee & SSS unit trainer: Image courtesy of FW Fishers

JW Fishers inform that Bancroft Global Development is using its side scan sonars to locate and make safe Somalia's harbor in the capital city, Mogadishu, which was heavily mined during the civil war in that country. SomaliaÂ’'s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) launched the Mogadishu Port Rehabilitation Project and  assisting in this work is Washington-based Bancroft Global Development, an organization that receives some funding from the United Nations and the US State Department.

18 Jul 2012

Somali Relief Ship Escorted by EUNAVFOR Warships

MV Gigante: Photo credit EUNAVFOR

Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) provided protection to MV Gigante, a ship chartered for AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) to bring supplies to the African Union peacekeeping force based in Mogadishu. The German frigate Bremen and the French frigate Guépratte took turns to carry out this mission, from the south Red Sea to Mogadishu. As with the World Food Programme vessels, protecting logistics for AMISOM is part of the mandated tasks of the EU Naval Force -  Operation Atalanta and is part of the Comprehensive Approach of the European Union in the fight against piracy.

28 Jun 2012

Somali President Urges More Counter-piracy Help

Speaking at the opening of the two-day Marine Counter Piracy Conference, which runs in its 2nd edition in the Gulf Arab Emirate (UAE) of Dubai, the widely internationally recognized Somali president said that his country was suffering immensely from piracy. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia said: "Criminal acts from pirates range from illegal fishery, violent seizure of foreign cargo ships, killings and rape. The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia has been fighting since 2006 against Al Shabaab insurgents. In August 2011, the government forces managed to force the Shabaab militia, regarded by the United States as an affiliate of the Al-Qaida network, completely out of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

18 May 2012

IMO Signs-up with UN & EU on Counter-piracy

Photo credit IMO

The commitment of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia through boosting capacity building in the region has been underlined with the signing of five strategic partnerships with a number of UN agencies and the EU, following a Conference on Capacity Building to Counter Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, held at IMO Headquarters in London on 15 May 2012. The Conference was attended by some 300 delegates from member States as well as a number of organizations.

15 May 2012

Naval Force Mounts First Air-strike on Pirate Shore

Image: EUNAVFOR

Following the decision taken on 23 March 2012 by the Council of the European Union to allow the EU Naval Force to take disruption action against known pirate supplies on the shore, EU forces recently conducted an operation to destroy pirate equipment on the Somali coastline. The operation was conducted in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1851 and has the full support of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The focused, precise and proportionate action was conducted from the air and all forces returned safely to EU warships on completion.

30 Mar 2012

Piracy Off the Horn of Africa

Remarks by Andrew J. Shapiro, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, given to the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC (March 27, 2012). Thank you for inviting me here today. I want to thank the Center for American Progress [CAP] for having me here to speak on the important subject of piracy off the Horn of Africa. CAP is a tremendous leader in developing new ideas and in approaching issues in new ways. I come here before you today to talk about an issue that the Obama administration has also had to approach in new and innovative ways. Despite the romantic notions surrounding piracy of previous centuries, modern day piracy represents a new and complex threat to the international community.

26 Mar 2012

Piracy – EU Naval Force Extends Mission, Sends Ships

FS Dixmude: Photo credit EUNAVFOR

The decision to extend the mission will enable Operation Atalanta Forces to work directly with the Transitional  Federal Government and other Somali entities to support their fight against piracy in the coastal areas. In accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Somali government has notified the UN Secretary General of its acceptance of the EU’s offer for this new collaboration. The EUNAVFOR fleet which normally includes between 4 and 7 warships will be joined by two French Navy vessels.

24 Feb 2012

EU NAVFOR Piracy Update

Piracy development 2011

EU NAVFOR hosted a press conference on 20 February 2012 to present an update on Operation ATALANTA, piracy off the Horn of Africa and a view towards future developments. The briefing was hosted by Operation Commander Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts with Deputy Operation Commander Rear Admiral Rainer Endres and the NATO Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Commodore Bruce Belliveau. Countering piracy in the Indian Ocean is an international concern having become a sophisticated criminal business exploiting the geographic feature of the Gulf of Aden and the Arabic Sea.

13 Apr 2011

Specialized Somali Courts for Pirates Considered

Recognizing the need for further steps to boost anti-piracy efforts, the Security Council decided to urgently consider the establishment of specialized Somali courts to try suspected pirates both in the Somalia and in the region. The Council also urged both State and non-State actors affected by piracy, most notably the international shipping community, to provide support for a host of judicial- and detention-related projects through the trust fund set up for that purpose. In its unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member Council stressed the need for “a comprehensive response to tackle piracy and its underlying causes by the international community,” as it outlined a wide array of measures to more effectively counter the scourge of piracy.

24 Mar 2011

Piracy Likely to Escalate into Small Wars Says Expert

It is likely that Somali pirates will soon raise the level of lethal violence with the result that there will be “small wars” on the open sea, according to security expert Casey Christie. “Pirates will kill more people, including hostages and security officers” he warned. Christie, who is the managing director of Concept Tactical Worldwide, based in London, says this lethal escalation is a logical development of the way in which the pirate scourge is currently being handled by the international community. “For a long time the shipping lines were very reluctant to place armed men aboard their vessels for fear of an arms escalation race between the private security firms and the Somali pirates.

14 Dec 2009

Hijacked Tanker Potential Environmental Disaster

IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos expressed concern that adverse weather conditions and other contributing factors may bring about an accident to the supertanker Maran Centaurus – hijacked by pirates on 29 November 2009 with a cargo of 2 million barrels of crude oil – possibly resulting in an environmental catastrophe off the coast of Somalia, where the vessel is currently being held. The vessel, with a 28-member crew, was some 800 miles from the Seychelles Islands when it was hijacked and then taken to an area off the port of Hobyo in Somalia. Weather conditions are said to be changing for the worse in the area which, coupled with reported unsafe anchorage conditions…

22 Apr 2009

Statement on Piracy by CG Commandant

Statement on Piracy by CG Commandant, Adm. Piracy has been rightfully called an insult to civilization. The recent pirate attacks on the motor vessels Maersk Alabama and Liberty Sun focused the attention of the American public on what has been an increasingly significant international issue. It is important that the American public and the international community know that the U.S. Government is working hard to find an enduring international solution to this international problem. Maritime piracy is a symptom of instability in Somalia. The only long-term solution must address piracy’s root causes in Somalia itself: political instability and lack of economic opportunity. The U.S. supports a reconstituted Somalia with lawful control over its entire territory.

18 Dec 2008

UN Security Council – Further Anti-Piracy

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution authorizing further action against pirates operating off the coast of Somalia.  Naval forces patrolling in the area are encouraged to carry law enforcement personnel (ship riders) from regional nations so as to facilitate prosecution of captured pirates.  With the consent of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), military personnel from patrolling forces will be allowed to take appropriate action ashore to suppress piracy. (Source: Holland & Knight)

10 Oct 2008

Round Table Agrees on Somalia Piracy Approach

At the invitation of IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, a meeting took place involving the heads of the four shipping industry bodies known collectively as the Round Table (BIMCO, ICS/ISF, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO), and of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The meeting aimed at exploring common approaches, additional to measures already taken, to address the increasingly serious incidence of piracy attacks on shipping off the coast of Somalia and, in particular, in the Gulf of Aden – a strategic corridor leading to the Red Sea and to the Suez Canal, which represents a key conduit for almost 12 percent of the world’s crude oil, not to mention other energy, container and general bulk traffic.

06 Jun 2008

IMO welcomes Security Council Moves on Piracy

IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos has welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of a resolution authorizing a series of decisive measures to combat acts of piracy and armed robbery against vessels off the coast of . Under the terms of resolution 1816 (2008), which was adopted unanimously, the Security Council decided that, following receipt of a letter from Somalia to the President of the UN Security Council giving the consent of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), States co-operating with the TFG would be allowed, for a period of six months, to enter the country's territorial waters and use "all necessary means" to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, in a manner consistent with relevant provisions of international law.

13 Dec 2007

IMO Strategy, Budget Approved

IMO's Strategic Plan for the next six years and High-level Action Plan for the next two years were updated by the Organization's highest governing body, the Assembly, when it met for its 25th regular session from 19 to 30 November, 2007. The Assembly also approved the Organization's budget for the next two years, elected a new Council, confirmed the re-appointment of Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos for a further term and adopted a wide range of technical and other resolutions. IMO's high-level action plan sets out in detail the planned "outputs" for the biennium and links them to the six-year strategic plan. The new strategic plan supersedes the previous version, and identifies strategic directions that will enable IMO to achieve its mission objectives in the years ahead.

04 Dec 2007

IMO Assembly Issues Renewed Call for Action on Piracy off Somalia

ships in waters off the coast of Somalia. Secretary-General Efthimios E. earlier resolution (A.979(24)) adopted in 2005 at the 24th IMO Assembly. Government (TFG) of Somalia. launched. Somalia do not become victims of acts of piracy or armed robbery. pirates and armed robbers. or leaving Somali ports after having discharged their cargo. unconditionally released and that no harm is caused to them. in tackling the problem. and suppress piracy and armed robbery against ships. called upon to assist these efforts. they are under attack, or threat of attack. such information to the attention of IMO. area. area. report any pertinent information to IMO. robbers. Somalia. States to enhance their capacity to give effect to the new IMO resolution.

11 Jul 2007

Support for IMO Initiative on Somalia

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has welcomed the recent action taken by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to address the threat of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia as both timely and appropriate and has stated his intention to raise the matter with members of the UN Security Council on his return to New York. At a meeting in London today, IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, briefed Mr. Ban on the decision taken by the IMO Council, at a meeting in London last month, authorizing him to request Mr. Ban to bring the piracy situation off Somalia, once again, to the attention of the UN Security Council…

28 Jun 2007

IMO Council Agrees on Piracy Initiative

The IMO Council, meeting for its 98th session in London, has agreed further action to address the continuing incidence of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships sailing in waters off the coast of Somalia and, in particular, ships carrying humanitarian aid to the country. The Council endorsed the proposal of IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon be requested to bring, once again, the piracy situation off Somalia to the attention of the UN Security Council, so that the Security Council can, in turn, request the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to take action, as it may be deemed necessary and appropriate in the circumstances…

02 Dec 2005

TopCat Marine Security Hired to Eliminate Pirates

In response to this latest attack, the Somali has signed a contract with an security company that specializes in marine special operations. New York-based Topcat Marine Security signed a deal worth more than $50 million with the Somali Transitional Federal Government, which is temporarily based in Nairobi, to escort ships traveling through Somali waters. Topcat is a private security agencies offering clients law enforcement, counterterrorism and marine combat specialists. Topcat's client list includes the US Department of Homeland Security. They use state-of-the-art weaponry and equipment in order to mount offensive operations against pirates or terrorists who use the high seas for their acts of terrorism and piracy.

27 Nov 2005

U.S. Company Hired to Thwart Piracy

Somalia's government signed a deal with a US maritime security firm to fight rampant piracy in the waters off its unpatrolled coast, according to a report in the Taipei Times. Waters off the coast of Somalia are considered among the most dangerous in the world. Pirates firing rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns earlier this month tried to board a US-owned cruise liner about 160km off the Somali coast. New York-based Topcat Marine Security Inc signed a deal worth more than $50 million with the Somali Transitional Federal Government in Nairobi to escort ships plying Somali waters. Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Gedi, who witnessed the deal, said his government recognized the damage caused by pirates and hoped Topcat would help end the piracy menace.