29 April 2010

This morning 29 of April, the Vessel
Protection Detachment (VPD) from Malta was used for the first time in support
of EU NAVFOR's primary mandate

They embarked on the World food programme (WFP) ship MUSTAFA-H and will provide protection during her transit from Boosaaso to Berbera in northern Somalia.

The 12-man VPD team is normally embarked onboard EU NAVFOR Dutch warship Johan de Witt during its four months anti piracy mission. This task shows the flexibility of the team and the invaluable contribution that Malta is providing to the EU NAVFOR anti piracy operation.

This is Malta`s first military deployment into the operational theatre under the EU
Common Security Defence Policy (CSDP). The Maltese detachment has been
sourced from C Special Duties Company of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) and is
a valuable force multiplier in the area of operations.

EU NAVFOR Somalia ? Operation ATALANTA's main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

24 April 2010

AFM  personnel land in Uganda as part of the European Union's Training Mission for Somalia

Three  members of 1 Regiment, Armed Forces of Malta landed in Uganda early Saturday morning  after flying  on a Spanish Air Force plane there to participate in the European Union’s Training Mission for Somali military personnel in Uganda.

The purpose of the Mission, known as “EUTM Somalia” (European Union Training Mission Somalia) is to train Somali military personnel, thereby contributing to the strengthening of  

the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the institutions of Somalia. Malta has a direct interest in contributing towards  a  peaceful  and stable Somalia, given the large number of Somali third country nationals who land here or who requireto be rescued after they find themselves in difficulty on the high seas in the central mediterranean.

The EU mission, which is headed by Spain, will see military training being delivered to some 2,000 Somali trainees over a period of 12 months. The training is being provided to support existing military training programmes being run by Uganda.  EUTM Somalia is  being undertaken in support of  the UN Resolution 1872.

The mission headquarters is located in Kampala, the capital of Uganda whilst the training facility where the Maltese infantry instructors will be based is Bihanga camp, over 200 km west of Kampala.

The European Union is deploying nine instructor training teams to train Somali Security Forces  with different teams having different areas of responsibiliy. The AFM is initially contributing three personnel to this mission, on a tour of duty which will last six months. There are national plans to sutain this commitment towards this mission for a further six months with another three AFM personnel earmarked for a second 6 month tour of duty.