STRENGTH AND HONOUR
News
25.05.14 Djibouti
At least two people were killed late on Saturday in a bomb attack on a restaurant popular with Westerners in central Djibouti, official sources said.
Diplomats said there were reports of two explosions outside La Chaumiere cafe, and that two employees had been killed and around 10 others wounded, many of them foreigners. The sources said police were investigating reports that a grenade blast was followed by an attack by a suicide bomber. The French foreign ministry confirmed that several of its nationals were slightly wounded in the attack, and the Netherlands' De Telegraaf reported that six Dutch soldiers who had been taking part in an anti-piracy mission were also lightly wounded.
Djibouti's main ADI news agency said there were several explosions around 20:00 local time and that the area was quickly sealed off by police.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Call for unity
The Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, a former French colony, is home to the United States' biggest base in Africa which is used for anti-terror operations in Yemen, Somalia as well as for other operations across Africa.
France also maintains a military base in Djibouti.
Djibouti is also a key contributor of troops to the African Union force fighting al-Qaeda-linked Shebab militants in Somalia.
Shebab have already carried out attacks against Kenya and Uganda, who also have forces in Somalia. Djibouti's port also serves as a key base for ships taking part in international anti-piracy operations off the Somali coast.
The operation to protect international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden has led to a sharp drop in piracy in recent years.
In a statement on Twitter, Djibouti's Finance Minister Ilyas M Dawaleh said the country must "remain united in the face of such barbaric acts".
06.04.14 Djibouti
On Sunday 6 April, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean (French Navy) handed over the Force Command of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen (German Navy) during a Change of Command ceremony held on board FS Siroco in the Port of Djibouti.
Deputy Operation Commander of EU Naval Force Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá presided over the handover. The event was also attended by Lieutenant General Hans-Werner Fritz Commander of the Joint Forces Operations Command of the German Armed Forces in Potsdam.
The outgoing Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean addressed the distinguished guests and representatives of the taskforce and force headquarters aboard the flagship. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Force Headquarters staff, the commanding officers and crews of all the units under my command, not least the FS Siroco, her Commanding Officer and her ships company. Without their constant hard work and professionalism my successful 4 month tenure could not have been achieved.”
“I wish Rear Admiral zur Mühlen all the best for his 4 months as Force Commander of EU Naval Force”, he concluded.
The Deputy Operational Commander, Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá in his speech aboard the FS Siroco congratulated the outgoing Force Commander on a job well-done, “Under the excellent leadership of Rear Admiral Bléjean the taskforce has succesfully prevented any successful pirate attacks and secured the arrest of 5 suspect pirates. During his tenure the World Food Programme has delivered much needed food to Somalia whilst under protection of EU NAVFOR forces. The Flagship has also conducted 2 successful Key Leader Engagements with Somaliland and Puntland as well as a very successful exercises with other Counter-Piracy forces. ”
“I am confident that Rear Admiral zur Mühlen and his team are ready to take charge of the force. On behalf of the Operation Commander Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant thank you Hervé, and good luck Jürgen”, he added.
The new Force Commander, Rear Admiral zur Mühlen spoke after Rear Admiral Bauzá : “Since 2008 there have been no successful attacks against World Food Programme (WFP) vessels. We have seen the pictures from the media of Somali people and refugees suffering from famine. EU NAVFOR contributes significantly to reduce this humanitarian crisis by protecting WFP vessels. ”
He continued, “Furthermore EU Naval Force continues to protect vulnerable shipping against pirate attacks. Under my command the Task Force will continue to support the EU’s Comprehensive Approach by working with EUCAP Nestor and other EU initiatives in the region.”
The Force Headquarters led by Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen will remain aboard the FGS Brandenburg for 4 months. The Force Commander exercises command and control of all military forces in the area of operation. You can read more about the new Force Commander and the chain of command of the operation here.
January 20, 2014 - 16:22
First Pirate Attack In 2014 In The Gulf Of Aden Resulted In Apprehension Of Suspects By EU Naval Force
On Saturday 18 January 2014, the French EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship FS Siroco in cooperation with Japanese assets released the crew of a Dhow that was suspected to have been used as pirate mother-ship. The flagship apprehended 5 suspected pirates believed to be responsible for an attack on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden a day earlier.
The oil tanker issued a distress call to the UK Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) on the evening of Friday, 17 January, reporting to be under attack. According to the reports, the attack was repelled by a private armed security team embarked on board the oil tanker. The skiff then headed to a dhow which lingered nearby.
The EU Naval Force, in cooperation with other Counter Piracy Forces, reacted quickly to this incident. A Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft and a helicopter from the Japanese vessel JS Samidare, in associated support to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF/CTF 151), initially located the dhow. The EU NAVFOR flagship FS Siroco was then able to close distance to the dhow and launch their helicopter and boarding team.
Upon nearing the dhow, the helicopter crew and boarding team observed that people on board the dhow were throwing equipment over board, deepening the suspicion that the dhow was indeed the reported pirate mother-ship.
Once the Siroco’s team boarded the dhow, 5 Somali suspect pirates surrendered and were separated from the dhow’s crew and transferred to FS Siroco for further investigation. As always, the EU Naval Force seeks, if possible, a legal finish with the prosecution of the suspected pirates.
The master’s initial statement supported the suspicion that his dhow has been pirated and his crew taken hostage several days ago off the coast of Somalia. He also stated that the suspect pirates were responsible for the attack on the oil tanker the day before.
The EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean, said: “Thanks to an exceptionally effective international cooperation, we showed once more that there will be no safe haven for piracy in the area as long as Counter Piracy Forces remain fully dedicated to their task. I also congratulate FS Siroco with this success.”
EU Naval Force deters, prevents and represses acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. EU Naval Force ships protect World Food Programme vessels delivering aid to Somalia and AMISOM shipping. EU Naval Force ships also contribute to the monitoring of fishing activity off the Somali Coast.
The EU chairs in 2014 the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). The EU is keen to mobilise international support to eradicate Somali piracy once and for all, not only by addressing the symptoms at sea but also by addressing the root causes of piracy ashore.
13.11.2013
We are pleased to announce that once again take part in the Transport Security Expo in London on 13-14 November 2013
02.10.2013
On Wednesday 2 October 2013 eleven pirates were convicted in the Seychelles Supreme Court of committing acts of piracy and operating a pirate vessel between 7 – 11 May 2012. Their sentences ranged from 18 months to 16 years.
The pirates had been apprehended by the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate, HNLMS Van Amstel, on 11 May 2012, after the warship’s Lynx helicopter sighted a suspicious fishing dhow towing 2 skiffs, 400 nautical miles off the Somali coast.
When the warship’s boarding team approached the dhow, the Dutch Navy crew found 11 suspected pirates of Somali origin and a total of 17 hostages on board.
After taking the suspected pirates to HNLMS Van Amstel, the Dutch boarding team found significant evidence that linked the 11 men to an armed attack on Motor Tanker ‘Super Lady’ a few days earlier.
The 17 freed hostages, who were Iranian fishermen, were very grateful to the Dutch sailors for rescuing them from the armed pirates.
The Royal Netherlands Navy has contributed warships to the EU Naval Force since the EU counter piracy operation began in December 2008. The current EU Naval Force flagship is HNLMS Johan de Witt, with Commodore Peter Lenselink embarked as the Force Commander.