Somali Relief Ship Escorted by EUNAVFOR Warships

EU Naval Force German and French Frigates escorts AMISOM cargo ship through piracy-risk waters to Mogadishu, Somalia

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.

The aim of AMISOM is to support the Transitional Federal Government to foster stability in Somalia and the establishment of sustainable institutions, which are indeed the key factors in eliminating the scourge of piracy.

Since the operation began in December 2008, 127 ships carrying equipment for AMISOM were protected by force Atalanta.