Category Archives: News

We live in a world where complex challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, migration, energy security, regional conflicts and terrorism threaten to destabilise the world in which we live. The European Union has a wide range of tools it can use – diplomatic, security, defence, trade, development and humanitarian – which it can pull together to try to deal with some of these challenges. Known as the “comprehensive approach”, it is already been used with success in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. There the EU has given political support for the democratic transition in Somalia, helped train the Somali army and set up the “Atalanta” anti-piracy naval mission to tackle Somalia pirates who threaten international shipping lanes. … Continue reading

By Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham We salute you: UN Security Council stands in tribute to Nelson Mandela. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe The death last night of Nelson Mandela serves as a reminder of the enormous potential of African leaders to bring positive and lasting change to the continent. It is a reminder also of the obligations that African leaders have towards their own countries and citizens. Almost all of these leaders, as heads of state and government, alongside senior representatives of international organisations, are expected to attend the Elysee Summit for Peace and Security in Africa which begins today in Paris. Hosted by president Francois Hollande, the summit also reflects France’s continuing and increasing importance in Africa’s politics. With a … Continue reading

Source in Nigeria informed Maritime Bulletin on three pirates attacks which took place in Akwa Ibom State waters, Bight of Bonny, Nigeria, on Nov 27 13. In the first accident 12 pirates attacked two passenger boats on Ibeno river. Pirates fired in the air, then boarded the boats and robbed passengers, wounding many of them with the machetes. Passengers were forced to leave the boats near the shore, it is understood that they managed to safely reach the shore. Boats were hijacked. Later pirates attacked two tugs, Lamnalco Petrel and LAMNALCO HOUBARA, in the vicinity of Kwa Ibo. Reportedly, 8 crew were hijacked. Tug Lamnalco Petrel, IMO 9171981, 210 gt, built 1998, flag Cyprus, manager LAMNALCO LTD-UAE. Source: http://www.fleetmon.com/maritimenews/2013/2777/pirates-attacked-passenger-boats-and-two-cyprus-fl/

A diplomatic spat has erupted in Brussels between a high Somali official and the EU commissioner for development over the level of foreign aid given to the wartorn African country. Fawzia Yusuf Adam, Somalia’s minister of foreign affairs and deputy PM, said that her country had received “nothing from the European Union – only promises”. Reacting to earlier remarks by Adam, EU commissioner for development Andris Piebalgs told IBTimes UK exclusively: “I’m very upset because that is false”. “The political process starting in Somalia is not only because of political abilities but investment in different parts of Somalia which brings people to support the federal government,” he said during a private meeting at the European Development Days in Brussels. “We … Continue reading

Mogadishu (RBC) Unidentified gunmen have assassinated a well known Somali court judge in Mogadishu’s Huriwa neighborhood, RBC Radio reports. Late Hassan Nur Mohamed who was a member of Somali well known judges and worked for the ministry of justice of the federal government of Somalia was killed near the Huriwa district market by men armed with pistols who have immediately escaped from the crime scene. The police reached the area but nobody was arrested for the killing of the judge. The Justice Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Abdullahi Abyan Nur has condemned the assassination and called for immediate arrest for the murderers. The Minister said the judge was killed in the line of duty as he was heading … Continue reading