Cathy and Jack in pursuit of pirates… in Mauritius
(BRUXELLES2) Cathy and Jack, arm in arm in Mauritius? The photo makes you dream. Wait a few more days.
The EU's chief diplomat, Cathy Ashton, will indeed be in the Indian Ocean from 6 to 8 October. A second visit to the region after Tanzania, Kenya and the Seychelles last May (1) On the menu, a visit to South Africa, an essential partner in the region both commercially and in terms of continental security (Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe). And a presence at the second anti-piracy conference of the countries of the region which is taking place this time in Mauritius, following the meeting in Seychelles last May. Baroness Ashton will then have at her side, Jack Lang, the UN special envoy on the prosecution of pirates.
This should be an opportunity to put the finishing touches to the agreement that the EU will sign with the island in the Indian Ocean for it to accept and try pirates apprehended by European forces. In exchange, Mauritius could benefit from additional EU assistance, including new buildings (court, interrogation rooms and detention centers with 50 places) as well as technical and judicial assistance in terms of training (2) . But Mauritians would also like to see certain other costs covered, such as patrol costs. It will also be an opportunity to test the real will of South Africans to participate in the fight against piracy (by operational and financial means, even by taking charge of the judgment or the imprisonment of pirates...). Other agreements are also being negotiated with Tanzania in particular. (the "Uganda" hypothesis now seems excluded after theattempt of July).
This regional meeting is important for Cathy Ashton who has been urged by certain ministers of Member States, such as Carme Chacon, to make these agreements a "top priority" (3). Piracy now has real economic consequences: reduction in maritime traffic, luxury tourism, increase in the cost of goods (about 25 euros more per container transported)... And the States fear above all that piracy extends to land, as several interlocutors told me. " They fear the risk of hostage taking in more isolated hotels or islands » which would sound like a bad signal for islands like the Seychelles or Mauritius which live, in large part, from this tourism.
A more political meeting too
This meeting is also innovative. Because many countries in the region "weren't used to talking to each other and solving their problems directly" it is estimated on the European side. There are a number of disputes over the layout of maritime territorial zones or even claims of islets between the different countries. And the EU by its mode of operation can be a "model".
All the countries of the region and members of COMESA (the common market for eastern and southern Africa) should thus meet: South Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania, Comoros... . Other countries or regions will be represented at the technical level, such as India or China, represented by the ambassador, or France, by the authorities of Réunion, as well as Madagascar (country in the region but which as a result of State should not be present at ministerial level).
The recent defense agreement signed between the Comoros and France - despite the dispute over the status of Mayotte (which at the time of the independence of the archipelago had voted for the attachment to France) is an important signal of this new desire to find solutions at the regional level. France should in particular help the Comoros to modernize its navy to protect its coasts, and its exclusive economic zone (disputed with Mozambique), from piracy.
(1) Read also:
(2) Read also:
- Mauritius says yes to EU to bring pirates to justice
- Mauritius offers its services in the fight against piracy
(3) For Carme Chacon, the "top priority" is the prosecution of pirates
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
