Der Bundeswehr Einsatz am Horn von Afrika (the anti-piracy operation-1)
video courtesy of die Bundeswehr August 2012
From 2008 die Bundeswehr has been engaged in an EU-led Counter-Piracy Operation ‘die Operation Atalanta’ in the coast of Somalia and Gulf of Aden and has been the leading Forces of this mission.
According to International Maritime Bureau (IMB)and the ICC Commercial Crime Services: “Globally, 174 ships were boarded by pirates in 2012, while 28 were hijacked and 28 were fired upon” The report continues: “In Somalia the most commonly attacked are: container ships, bulk carriers and tankers loaded with oil, chemicals and other products. The fishing vessels and other smaller boats are also at risk.”
The Success of the Atalanta:
With the significant success of this Operation, over 150 ships have been able to cross the coast and deliver supplies from the World Food Programme to the Humanitarian crisis area in Somalia. And the number of Piracy attempts has been reduced dramatically as the result of the EU Forces led by die Bundeswehr in the region.
With the the EU-led Operation of Atalanta the number of attempted piracy and people taken hostage on board in 2011 fell from 802 to 585. And statistic report shows that the Piracy in this region, in 2012 fell to the lowest point in comparison to 2009.
http://www.icc-ccs.org/news/811-imb-reports-drop-in-somali-piracy-but-warns-against-complacency
Operation Atalanta is Mandated in the following tasks:
- Protecting the vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP), inter alia, by the presence of armed forces on board;
- Protection of logistic transport of African Union Mission Somalia (AMISOM) and other commercial shipping in the region;
- Deterrence, Prevention and Terminating any acts of armed robbery in the Sea, which can be carried out with the use of Force;
- Monitoring the fishing activities off the coast of Somali.
Operation and joining training in the Gulf of Aden. (photo courtesy of Bundeswehr/Schönbrodt. November 2010)
Additionally Bundeswehr is also involved in two Operational tasks in the region:
1- In the European Training Mission in Somalia. Published by the Federal Government of Deutschland by April 2013, die Bundeswehr had already trained over 3000 Somalian national army troops.
2- And in European Union Mission on Regional Maritime Capacity Building for the Horne of Africa (EUCAP NESTOR)
The (EUCAP NESTOR) is a European regional mission with the aim at increasing the Maritime Capacity of the five countries in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.
Its objectives places the focus on:
- To strengthen the Sea Maritime Capacity of Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Seychelles.
- And to help to establish and maintain the Rule of Law sector in Somalia, with an initial focus on the regions of Puntland and Somaliland. In particular, the mission will support the set up and training of a land-based coastal police force. (announced by the European Union External Action)
In May 2013 with the high request from the EU-led Operational Command the Bundestag agreed to extend the mission of the German Armed Forces in the coast of Somalia for further twelve months, until May 2014.
Die Bundeswehr in Operation Atalanta March 2013(photo courtesy of EU Naval Force Media and public information office)
Most Military experts in U.S and around the World predict that with the extension of Bundeswehr’s mandate in the region ‘ the Operation Atalanta’ is set for another round of well-strategic Einsätze …..only to reach the absolute Endsiege.
By Catherine Stella Schmidt
Europe in the World 