An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/816375
www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 17 by CPO/ERA RUAIRí DE BARRA F or decades the horn of Africa has been a much-troubled region. Recently, in this publication, Paul o'brien MA deliv- ered an overview of the conflict. In this article, I will focus on the efforts underway to rebuild the country. A lasting peace will be built not only by the absence of conflict but by resetting the foundations of the state. Many intercon- nected parts must be brought together to provide a place where a functioning government can use its natural resources for the benefit of all its citizens. One of the greatest resources open to Somalia is the sea. They have the longest coastline on mainland Africa at 3,025km. Somali waters may have become synonymous with piracy and lawless- ness but this will be one of the key areas where economic activity is brought back to the impoverished country, which is balanced on a knife-edge regarding its security and stability. We in Ireland know that the ocean harbours great rewards, if it can be fished or farmed and traded across with certainty, safety and creativity. However, to be able to protect the ocean's wealth, the state must be able to project its authority out to the sea; no easy thing to achieve in the complex political climate of Somalia. Federal Somalia, in theory, consists of the states of Puntland, Glamudug, Jubaland, South West State, Hir-Shabelle and Somalil- and. A prime example of the difficulty in creating a federal gov- ernment is that Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and has no relations with the Federal Government of Somalia, despite no country recognising Somaliland's independence. Three EU missions were created to assist the Federal Govern- ment: EUTM Somalia; EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta; and EUCAP Somalia (formerly EUCAP Nestor). In 2016 all these missions' mandated were prolonged until 31st December 2018. There are 17 participating nations in EUCAP, whose budget was nearly €18m in 2015, and the mission has a planned capacity for nearly 180 staff. EUCAP's objective is to assist Somalia in strength- ening its maritime security capacity, so that maritime law is enforced more effectively. EUTM contributes to the capacity building of the Somali Na- tional Army (SNA), while Operation Atalanta is countering piracy off the coast. Mr Chris Reynolds, the Director of the Irish Coast Guard is on secondment to EUCAP Somalia as Head of Operations.