Federica Mogherini in Mogadishu: “I appreciate your determination”

The European Union High Representa-tive for Foreign Policy and Vice Presi-dent (HR/VP), Federica Mogherini, visit-ed Somalia on 20 May. When she greet-ed the Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire in Mogadishu she told him: “We met many times but this is my first time in Mogadishu, and I feel the emotion and the honour to be finally here”. “My presence here in theatre, together with my team and with the European Union team that is everyday here in Mogadishu, is the best testimony of friendship, partnership, and support. We recognise that Somalia is first and foremost of strategic relevance and im-portance, not only for Somali people, for the region, for Africa, but also for Europe and the international communi-ty.”

European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia

N e w s l e tt e r, M a y 2 0 1 9

HR/VP Federica Mogherini meeting with EUCAP Somalia Mission members.

EUCAP SOMALIA

Highlights of the month

The Mission organised the «Challenges for the Criminal Justice System» Workshop in Garowe, Puntland, bringing together professionals from the criminal justice chain. Twelve Somali participants, including six women from the police force and the judiciary, joined a 3-day workshop to gain a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced by criminal justice system actors.

Two Advisers of EUCAP Somalia met with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu to discuss the Internship Pro-gramme to be deployed at the court. EUCAP will also provide some furniture for the court.

EUCAP is mentoring INTERPOL staff in Mogadishu. Support to INTERPOL has already brought notable results in terms of in-frastructure, equipment and training of staff.

COMING UP SOON The “Ship in a box project” will be launched in June. It provides the Somali Police Force Maritime Police Unit with a training facility composed of a set of maritime containers simulating the interior of a vessel, enabling virtual train-ing in real situations.

During her Mogadishu visit, Ms. Moghe-rini spent time with personnel of the EU Delegation to Somalia, EUCAP Somalia, EUTM Somalia and EU NAVFOR Atalanta.

“Let me express my deepest recognition and appreciation for your determination and professional engagement despite the very challenging environment you are facing,” she told her EU colleagues.

The HR/VP stressed the EU has deployed all instruments to support peace and development in Somalia. This is not without risks and EU people are in thea-tre taking risks along our Somali col-leagues. “We have done this investment because we are convinced that this is the right thing to do, for Somalis, the region and indeed for our own interests,” Ms. Mogherini said.

May is the time of year where we celebrate EU Day, marking the historical 'Schuman declaration' dating back to 1950 that set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would impede war between European nations to never happen again. I was happy to celebrate the day in Mogadishu with our Somali and international friends.

Later in May, I visited Puntland, where our Mission has a very active Field Office in Garowe. I felt privi-leged for being able to attend the opening of a Mis-sion’s workshop aimed at strengthening the criminal justice chain, as Rule of Law is key for the protection of human rights, to ensure security and see democra-

1. HR/VP visits EUCAP Somalia stand during the EU Open Day in Brussels 2. EU Day celebrations in Mogadishu: EU Delegation to Soma-lia’s Charge’ d’Affaires and Heads of the EU Missions welcome guests.

Portugal, a maritime nation, is the birthplace of

Jorge Caseiro, EUCAP Somalia’s Head of Opera-

tions, so it is no mystery why he always wished to

work for an international organisation engaging

in the maritime domain. Before joining EUCAP

Somalia, Jorge was Head of the Portuguese Guar-

da Nacional Republicana Maritime Service (a na-

tional police force) and Head of Fisheries Enforce-

ment & Vessel Traffic Service.

Somalia is not his first African experience. In the

90s he worked in Angola with the UN and in

Mozambique in 2005.

What he likes most about the job? Working with

Somalis and international colleagues from differ-

ent backgrounds and cultures.

EUCAP Somalia newsletter, May 2019, page 2

May, a time for work and celebration

cy thrive. I had the honour of meeting with the Vice President, H.E. Ahmed Ali Kara and the Minister of Justice, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ali Farah and other maritime ministers. We had a mean-ingful exchange of views, touching upon the Mission’s wish to further engage with the Mari-time Police in of Bossasso, where I also visited. In Bossasso I had the opportunity to meet the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and the Minister of Maritime Transport, Ports & Maritime Crime Prevention.

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT SOMALIA?

Somalia is the country with the highest population of camels in the world totalling 6.2 million. Somalia is followed by Su-dan (3.2 million camels), Mauritania (1.23 million), Ethiopia (1.07 million), India (1.03 million) and Pakistan (0.8 million).

Maria-Cristina Stepanescu Head of Mission

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LET US INTRODUCE:

Jorge Caseiro

www.eucap-som.eu EUCAP SOM @EUCAPSOM LinkedIn

EUCAP Somalia newsletter, May 2019, page 3

Being awarded the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) medal is a significant moment for personnel deployed in Somalia. It is a sign of appreciation for the time served in

Somalia working with their Somali and interna-tional col-leagues for a better com-mon future.

Four EUCAP Somalia Mission members were awarded the CSDP Service Medal on 18 May, during a joint ceremony with our “sister” Mission EUTM Somalia. EUCAP Somalia’s Head of Mission, Maria-Cristina Stepanescu awarded the medals to the Deputy Head of Mission, Chris Reynolds, the Head of Operations Jorge Caseiro, the Chief of General Services, Riccardo Dentici and the Procure-ment Officer Maria Jimenez Serrano. Chain of Prosecution Adviser Anton Girgi-nov and Transport Officer Octavio Ramos Vieira also qualified to receive the CSDP medal, but they were out of Somalia at the time of the ceremony.

In May, EUCAP Somalia’s Head of Mission, Maria-Cristina Stepanescu and staff members joined beach clean-up organised by the United Nations. Together with the Head of United Nation Support Office in So-malia (UNSOS) Lisa Filippetto, the EUTM’s Command-er Matteo Spreafico, the EU Delegation to Somalia’s Charge’ d’Affaires Fulgencio Garrido Ruiz and many more colleagues from various organisations and na-tions, joined the joyful team of EUCAP volunteers to fill up rubbish bags with all they could remove from the beach. The UN regularly organizes beach clean-ups where many volunteers who love the ocean con-tribute to maintaining the beautiful beaches of Somalia.

Medal ceremony in Mogadishu Thank you for your service

We cleaned the beach!