EUCAP Somalia and partners strengthen emergency response through maritime and aeronautical SAR collaboration

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EUCAP Somalia and partners strengthen emergency response through maritime and aeronautical SAR collaboration

EUCAP Somalia, in collaboration with several international partners, organized two events aimed at strengthening maritime safety and search and rescue (SAR) capabilities in Somalia. These initiatives, which coincided with the World Maritime Day on 26 September 2024, focused on enhancing cooperation and coordination among Somali and international actors in critical maritime operations.

© EUCAP Somalia

EUCAP Somalia, together with the EU's Critical Maritime Routes in the Indian Ocean project (CRIMARIO II), held a table-top exercise in Mogadishu to simulate emergency scenarios. This exercise involved Somali stakeholders, including the Somali Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and Somali Police Force's Department of Coast Guard (SPF-DCG) units. The drill used the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform to enhance information-sharing and coordination with MRCCs from Mombasa and Yemen, as part of the Safe Navigation program promoted by the IMO. Through this exercise, the SAR capabilities of the Somali MRCC were enhanced, enabling a more effective response to maritime emergencies within the Mogadishu area. Real-life scenarios, lessons learned, and best practices were incorporated into the exercise, which was conducted via video teleconference. The initiative served not only as a practical training session but also as an opportunity to strengthen the links between Somali stakeholders and international partners.

The same day a meeting was organized between key Somali authorities responsible for maritime and aeronautical SAR. Organized with the support of EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA's Liaison Officer and EUCAP's Maritime Security Unit, the meeting took place at Mogadishu Airport between Mr. Mirawk Mohamud Ahmed, the Point of Contact for the soon-to-be-established Somali MRCC, and Mr. Abdi Aden, the SAR Manager of the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA). The discussion, which also included SCAA's Deputy Director, Mr. Ali Jama Abdi, aimed to establish effective coordination between the MRCC and the Aeronautical Search and Rescue Centre. The visit marks the first step toward effective coordination between the two centres within their respective Somali rescue areas, in line with international conventions for maritime and aeronautical SAR.