Strong navies and coast guards around Somalia
Much has been done to tackle the problems caused by maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia, but more needs to done to build the capacity of Somalia and its neighbours to control their own shores and patrol their own waters, said the UAE Foreign Minister, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
This remarks were part of a statement issued ahead of a two-day international conference on Counter Piracy, organised by the UAE Foreign Ministry in partnership with local port operators.
“Despite a marked decline in pirate attacks launched from the coast of Somalia over the last two years, maritime piracy remains a threat to regional security and global commerce. Representatives from around the globe are therefore gathering in Dubai, 11th September and on 12th September, to discuss ways of strengthening the response of the international community to meet this challenge. Building on the success of two previous conferences, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with its conference partners, DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company, has again convened this high-level initiative on countering piracy.”, said the UAE Foreign Minister.
He also noted “Central to the UAE’s counter-piracy strategy is the recognition that the capability and capacity of countries in the region to combat piracy are varied and at different stages of development. Determining specific gaps thus allows the UAE to target assistance where it can have the greatest impact, thereby advancing regional partners’ security and stability.”
“The UAE tailors assistance to the specific needs of a country. This is shown, for example, in the support provided to the coast guard and navy of the Seychelles, where the UAE has helped to build facilities and has provided patrol planes. By conducting a needs assessment and then helping chart a trajectory towards a comprehensive national strategy, the UAE assists its regional partners in helping themselves. This enables countries to develop their own counter-piracy capability, strengthen their rule of law, and protect their sovereignty and territory against the scourge of maritime piracy.”
“At this year’s conference, the focus is on regional capacity-building in order to allow countries in the region to control their own shores and patrol their own waters. Improving the capacity of the navies and coast guards of Somalia and its neighbours will not only substantially diminish pirate attacks, it will also help the region in facing other challenges, such as illegal fishing and human trafficking.”
“But we do not just focus on other countries. At home, the UAE has made progress in strengthening the military’s maritime security capability, engaging and training private industry on best practices in areas such as port security, and using the legal system as a tool for prosecuting and deterring piracy-related offences”.
Held under the theme of “Countering Maritime Piracy: Continued Efforts for Regional Capacity Building”, the conference is jointly convened by the UAE Ministry Foreign Affairs, global ports operator DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), demonstrating the UAE’s support for public and private sector coordination in the fight against maritime piracy both on and off shore.
Key themes of the conference will include:
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