Parliament backs Somali military training

(BRUSSELS2) The majority is clear: 479 votes for, 96 against, and 54 against. The resolution was proposed by 5 groups (EPP Christian Democrats, S&D Social Democrats, ALDE Liberals and Democrats, EFD sovereignists, ECR Euroconservatives), the groups greens and communists were rather against.

In addition to the usual condemnations of violations of theinternational humanitarian law and the call for the immediate cessation of hostilities, it highlights four points:

• Support for the Somali government "its support for the TFG, placed under the leadership of President Cheikh Sharif Cheikh Ahmed, as well as the desire expressed by the President to respect the principles defined in the Djibouti peace agreement", it's nothing, just words, but international support for a government in difficulty is not minor.

• Yes to the pursuit of Atalanta, but skeptical about its extension to the south. Ihe Parliament "calls on the Council to extend the operation for a year" (*). Even if the power of Parliament is almost nil in matters of ESDP, this form of approval is also necessary to give democratic legitimacy which is currently lacking in ESDP missions. More interesting is the opinion of the parliament which explains " be in favor of a possible extension of the area of ​​operation towards the south depending on the activities of the pirates (NB: towards the Mozambique Channel), but stresses that this extension must not affect the primary purpose of the mission, namely to protect the convoys of the WFP and other vulnerable vessels, the merchant or fishing fleet”. Which, in itself, agrees with the opinion of Read-Admiral Hudson, who commands the operation. Better the parliamentarians insist: « the security strategy pursued and carried out by the Atalanta operation must prevail and that it is even necessary to strengthen its resources and extend the area of ​​action of the forces deployed for the operation ". It is not a simple satisfaction, it is a support without calling for an extension.

• Call for ships to follow Atalanta's advice. Incidentally, MEPs deplore one fact: that " 35-40% of vessels passing through the area are not registered with the central maritime security coordination body, and are therefore not informed of specific security threats; therefore asks the Member States to ensure that all their vessels are registered. » And parliamentarians to invite "all ships to follow the recommendations of the naval force".

• Green light for Somali military training operation, subject to conditions. Parliament considers it necessary to "deploya new ESDP operation of limited scale alongside Operation Atalanta to contribute to the training of TFG security forces. Because " la The fight against piracy will only be successful if we attack the causes of the phenomenon, which are found on land, and reside in poverty and in the deficiency of the State, and can only be eradicated by the establishment peace, development and one state in Somalia ". The parliament " insists " However " on the fact that the adoption of the concept in no way prejudges the decision to activate a mission, which can only be decided after a more in-depth examination of the situation on the ground, ensuring that the rights of the are respected, salaries are paid, equipment is delivered, and trained security forces are integrated into state-controlled command structures so that upon their return they will not do not turn against the government they are supposed to protect ". In fact all sorts of conditions that the planners are already working on. But that cannot be 100% guaranteed...