EU helps to increase maritime security in Somalia

Somalia has more than 3,000 km of coastline. The sea is a potential source of economic revenue. However the long shoreline exposes Somalia to various threats, such as smuggling, trafficking of persons and drugs, unregulated fishing and piracy. The EU supports Somalia in increasing its capacity to address these threats.

The nascent Department of Coast Guard of Somali Police Force is responsible for ensuring law and order in the sea. In order to carry out its mission, the institution needs facilities, technical equipment and training. For a long period of time, the cost guards did not have proper facilities, and used an old boat as their office. Thanks to the EU-funded project “Support to the Mogadishu Maritime Police Unit”, the coast guards received assistance and training to increase the security of the country’s shoreline.

Under the project, the EU helped to build the coast guard headquarters in the Port of Mogadishu, to which the coast guard has moved in 2022. The building was officially handed over to the Somali Maritime Police on 30 March 2022.

The new premises include office space, training facilities, dormitories, classrooms, and a command centre for the coast guard. The EU ensured the supply of communication equipment, a radar, a floating jetty, a generator and training to help the coast guard improve their professional capacity. The floating jetty allows the guards to enter their boats easily from the dock.

With their new facilities, the coast guard officers will be able to do their work to the highest professional standard and contribute to building a secure Somalia for its citizens.