The 13 pirates detained by the Spanish Navy handed over to Kenya

(BRUSSELS2) 13 pirates successively arrested in early May by the Spanish Navy, as part of the European operation anti-pirates"Eunavfor Atalanta should be handed over to the authorities Kenyan in Mombasa, Saturday May 16 in the morning, according to the HQ of the operation in Northwood. 7 suspects were arrested after the attack on a ship marccare Greek, under flag Panamanian, May 6 in the Gulf of Aden (read: 7 hackers arrested by Eunavfor Atalanta). The other 7 men were arrested on May 7 after the attack on another Greek ship, flying the Maltese flag, still in the Gulf from aden. NB: One of the pirates, injured during the arrest, was not transferred. He was evacuated to Djibouti (hence some confusion - even within Atalanta! - between the figure, sometimes quoted, of 14 pirates delivered).

The end of a hesitation waltz

This discount puts an end to a waltz of hesitation. A Spanish judge - based on a new law voted in November which allows universal jurisdiction (as authorized or imposed, according to the analyses, by international conventions) had, in fact, requested their judgment in Spain. But the government - and the Spanish prosecutor - were not enthusiastic about this auto-referral and opposed it. The judge then ordered the release of the suspects. THE government and the prosecutor again opposed it. And as we explain at HQ of EUNAVFOR : "The Kenya has now formally agreed to charge its suspects", based on the agreement reached with the EU (which will be the fifth time this agreement has been used in this way).

Nb : According to Eunavfor, with this "delivery", 52 pirates have been handed over to justice since the start of the operation.
For me, I have a balance sheet slightly higher which amounts to 78 pirates. The difference is due to different counting methods and easily explained. The surrenders of suspects arrested within the framework of the EUNAVFOR operation, by French or Spanish units of the operation, to the justice system of the Seychelles, Puntland and Somalia, were carried out, under the national flag, just in time to surrender to justice. A legal and political trick to avoid involving the EU in this "transaction", the EU not having an agreement with these countries or regions.

The Spanish Atalanta unites, "Marks of the Ensenada, will enter the port of Mombasa saturday morning and care over 14 suspected pirates to Kenya Authorities. Kenya has now formally agreed to take over days These suspects for probation, based on the agreement between Kenya and the US, which now will be Used already the fifth team. One group of 7 suspects was stopped, after they classes to attack a greek merchant vessel, to tank under Panama flag, on the 06th May in the Gulf of Aden. This vessel started avoid maneuvers to counter the attack and hits the attacking skiff, which then capsized. The secondgroup of Also 7 suspects was stopped one days later, after they Attacked another greek ship, in Malta flagged bulk carrier, goal Were stopped by the helicopter of "Marks of the Ensenada", which was in neighborhood. This incidents Also took place in the Gulf of Aden. This will make in total of 52 suspected pirates having Been handed in by EUNAVFOR for probation.