EU Extends Counter-Piracy

the European Council extended Operation Atalanta’s mandate to deter, disrupt and repress acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia, until December 31, 2018.

News ID: 70601

Date: 02 December 2016 - 13:07

According to MANA, The two-year mandate extension comes amidst concerns within European Union Member States that whilst pirate attacks on merchant ships transiting the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean are currently suppressed, pirates still have the intent and capability to go out to sea and mount an attack.
The most recent pirate incident occurred on October 22, 2016, when a chemical tanker, CPO Korea, was attacked by six armed men 330 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia.
EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) (Somalia) was launched in December 2008 following a surge in piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. At the same time, the World Food Programme (WFP) was increasingly concerned about the safety of its much-needed humanitarian aid deliveries to Somalia.
Since then, EU NAVFOR warships and maritime protection teams have escorted over one million tons of humanitarian aid for the Somali people and, together with their international partners, have helped to reduce pirate incidents.
At the height of piracy in January 2011, over 700 hostages and 32 vessels were being held by Somali pirates, with huge ransoms for their release. Today, no vessels or hostages are being held by Somali pirates, EU NAVFOR Somalia said.