Our Magazine
Brussels Morning Online Newspaper
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Online Newspaper
  • Home
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Online Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
Home Our pick

EU emerges as a Security Provider in the Horn of Africa

Angelos Kaskanis by Angelos Kaskanis
14 January 2021
in Our pick
EU emerges as a Security Provider in the Horn of Africa
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Athens (Brussels Morning) Europe is no longer merely the recipient of collective security guarantees in a Euro-Atlantic context but is leading collective security in the Horn of Africa.

The European Council has prolonged the mandates of its two Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions in Somalia and Operation ATALANTA until 31 December 2022.

Specifically, the EUCAP mandate in Somalia is framed as a civilian capacity-building mission, EUTM is a military training mission, and Operation ATALANTA is a maritime military operation. 

The imperative of sustained EU engagement in the region is self-evident. Reviewing the strategic context in which EU engagement evolves, Brussels Morning talks to Ali Kaya, an international development expert specialising in Eastern and Western Africa. 

Ali Kaya, an international development expert specialising in Eastern and Western Africa

Europe assumes a leadership role

Kaya notes that the region is plagued by intergovernmental disputes and state failure, which has allowed for recurrent famines costing 260,000 lives and the thriving of organised crime networks. Between 2006 and 2012, thousands of people have died in a counter-terrorist offensive reclaiming key cities from terrorist outfit al-Shabaab. The ceasefire between Puntland and Galmudug warring factions in 2016 did restore some stability, but it did not eliminate organised crime strongholds.

The number of those internally displaced in the region is an estimated 2.6 million, many of whom live without assistance and are vulnerable to abuse. The UN recently noted that 2.1 million Somalians face food insecurity, mostly minors and IDPs. In that regard, the fight against piracy is crucial for Somalians to access basic needs. 

“Pirates target humanitarian aide delivery, particularly World Food Program ships, whose protection by Operation ATALANTA is now guaranteed for two more years. That is surely a positive step to guarantee human security and also a kind of collective security provision that deviates from Europe’s traditional ‘normative power’ role”, says Kaya

Collective security beyond EU member states 

Operation ATALANTA has ‘lateral’ missions, such as countering the trafficking in weapons, narcotics, and humans — not to mention limiting illegal fishing — essentially monitoring all activity off the coast of Somalia. 

Therefore, ATALANTA is also significant in implementing the UN arms embargo on Somalia and the ongoing fight against al-Shabaab and its proxy supporters. By expanding the operation’s mandate and geographical scope, the EU is gradually extending its maritime security outreach to the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb, and the Western Indian Ocean.

Because of wider security implications of state-failure and conflict in the region, participation in EU NAVFOR is not limited to EU member states. Back in 2009, Norway was the first non-EU country to contribute a warship to the operation. Since, more countries have joined, providing staff officers to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) and Force Headquarters (FHQ), including Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine. Ukraine contributed a warship in 2014 and later that year New Zealand offered an MPRA asset.

Background to Operation ATALANTA

Operation ATALANTA was established in late 2008 due to a surge in piracy in the Western Indian Ocean. The operation was successful in suppressing piracy and effectively protecting vessels critical to world trade as well as the World Food Programme (WFP) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). 

Map

Description automatically generated

Currently, ATALANTA focuses on deterrence, prevention, and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea. It also monitors fishing off the coast of Somalia and supports other EU CSDP missions and international organisations strengthening maritime security and capacity in the region.

Tags: European UnionHorn of AfricaMain-SliderSecurity Provider
Angelos Kaskanis

Angelos Kaskanis

Angelos Kaskanis is the Brussels Morning Security Columnist. He holds a Ph.D. in Terrorism and Security Studies and has worked for several think tanks and NGOs. His research focuses on Religious Extremism, Radicalization, and Security.

Latest post

Norway’s rare mineral discovery could alter EU dependency

Norway’s rare mineral discovery could alter EU dependency

10 hours ago
Dutch police arrest more than 150 as riots continue

Dutch police arrest more than 150 as riots continue

10 hours ago

Most Read

  • Italy’s cannabis industry could rival the legal market in the US

    Italy’s cannabis industry could rival the legal market in the US

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Georgia committed and ready for NATO membership

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Can Armenia and Azerbaijan win peace together?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How Emiratis shape the European defense agenda

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How EU trade and investment deals can fight climate change

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Subscribe
Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn

About Us

Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Category

  • Ambassador’s Corner
  • Commission
  • Council
  • Culture and Society
  • Diplomacy
  • Economy
  • EU Institutions
  • Europe
  • Europe With Transparency
  • Features
  • In Depth
  • Member States
  • Middle East Eye
  • Opinion
  • Our pick
  • Parliament
  • Place de la Bourse
  • Southeast Europe
  • Sustainable Perspective
  • The American Angle
  • The Macro-Economist
  • Uncategorised
  • US Elections
  • World

More info

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Cookies Policy
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Jobs

Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • EU Institutions
    • Parliament
    • Commission
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Member States
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • The American Angle
    • Southeast Europe
  • Magazine

Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.